When I first walked into the place, I just knew I was in for an awesome breakfast experience based on their home-dining ambiance. This is your legit ma and pa, comfort breakfast food joint doing all the right things to make you to feel welcomed and out feeling more than satisfied ready to take on the day. Omelette options are plentiful and cater to everyone's needs, and light! Waffles and toppings of your choice for your sweet tooth. Bottomless coffee :) Can't go wrong
(4)
Aaron D.
An omelette is never just an omelette. Sure, anyone can beat a couple eggs and fry them up with some goodies inside, but it takes a seasoned professional to put the right amount of the RIGHT ingredients in a breakfast you won't soon forget. That's how it is at Sorella's. With plenty of meat friendly and veggie friendly omelette options, everyone is sure to find something they'll love. It's cheap, it's quick, and the coffee is good. Don't be fooled by the out-of-date signage, Sorella's is where you want to be.
(4)
Kristine A.
I had never been & was like sure why not, let's try some place new. The place is small & typical mom & pop place that only takes cash. Things to be made aware of when you get there not when the bill is coming Well there were people waiting outside & that meant a wait for a table which is to be expected on a weekend morning. When he said it would be like 5 or 10 min I thought great, not a long wait. Well since he didn't take my name down I wasn't sure how he was going to keep track of people as more & more showed up. He comes outside & starts taking names but the issue is how he put someone else's name before mine but says he knows I was there first. That totally backfired. They ended up getting seated before us & it was already 20 minutes later & hungrier of course. I mentioned this later & then finally got us in. Thank goodness we already knew what we wanted & ordered right away. The server was very friendly & helped us out right away. The have had written signs all over their restaurant & some of which is spelled incorrectly on their menu too. The have so many varieties of pancakes that it's hard to pick which ones you should get. Pretty damn tasty.
(3)
Sophia E.
Was really disappointed since I had such high hopes for this place. Waited for 20 minutes for someone to take our order, was told to move tables because a bigger party was coming in... All of this would have been fine except for the fact that everything on our plates was undercooked. Ordered the eggs special over easy and got eggs that still had the raw whites. Two out of the three sausages were cold if that makes any sense. Everything was so rushed. With the manager yelling at his staff in plain sight of customers, we knew we wouldn't be coming back again. If they took their time and actually paid attention to their customers, it could have been a great spot in JP.
(2)
Sylvia P.
Very affordable and extensive creative brunch menu. It's a small place but we got lucky and our party of 8 was seated pretty quickly. Definitely coming back.
(5)
Allison M.
I had high hopes for this place as well and was disappointed. It appears as a small diner with diner type food which is fine. The food itself was ok. I had a Romeo omelette which comes with grape tomatoes and toast. The omelette came out and there was a random grape tomato just chilling on the plate. Like why is it just on the plate and not in the omelette? And I expected the tomatoes to be sliced..they were just whole tomatoes in an omelette. Also the toast had some green stuff on it. I'm pretty sure it was smeared avocado but they could've done better with that. I also dared to ask for jelly and it was so solid, I couldn't even try it. Probably won't be coming back again but it was an experience.
(2)
Herb S.
I used to go to Sorella's when I lived near JP to get brunch on Sundays. Always had a great experience. Make sure to bring cash!
(5)
Em J.
I used to live in JP, and this was one of my top places for brunch. I still visit every so often. This is a location that is best enjoyed dining in. It's best to go in smaller groups (maybe 4-5, tops). They have their regular menu full of great choices, and their walls are decorated with art AND other food suggestions - i.e. 10 additional pancake options, or omelet choices at any given time. The pricing is cheap, CASH ONLY, and the atmosphere is a very friendly, family-like business. Enjoy coffee with cheap brunch? Great! Unlimited refills, and they come around quite frequently to make sure you have what you need. It's a very quaint restaurant, and the first time I went there I almost missed it, walking by. For a simple, sweet weekend brunch, this is perfection. After enjoying a big meal here, walk around JP and head over to the pond. When the weather is lovely it makes for a beautiful Saturday afternoon.
(5)
yoyo b.
Great pancakes but the rest of their menu is eh. Great service though. Very accommodating and kid-friendly.
(4)
Margarita S.
I came here at 12 noon on Sunday and waited outside to get seated for about 20 min. The host was really nice and smiley girl. I got a round table next to the window though i was alone. The first thing I realized that they accept only cash. OK, it is reasonable for such a small place. I ordered a Neptune Omelette. About 5 min later the waiter said they ran out of avocado and offered a guacamole which was fine with me. The omelette itself was good thought it didn't have a promised guacamole. Oh well. The service was fast and welcoming though. Good for a family brunch but don't expect too much from this place.
(3)
Stacy H.
if you love breakfast, you're going to come here. keep it simple silly: 1 CASH ONLY 2 literally dozens of omelette options with enough choices for you sweet teeth 3 vegetarian and vegan options galore: you can substitute anything for tofu or tempeh 4 coffee refills every 5 minutes? yes please (coffee is only decent though, so don't expect too much) 5 three different hot sauce options 6 not really good for big groups (ie 4+), since this is a smaller restaurant i had the neptune omelette, which was really fascinating and yummy: eggs with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, seaweed, topped with sprouts served with a side of home fries. yum! the spinach and seaweed meshed wonderfully, so that even someone like me who eats seaweed consistently didn't even recognize it until halfway through the omelette. definitely going to come back!
(4)
Natasha M.
Sadly, did not enjoy our takeout breakfast. I ordered the french toast special and was not impressed. Home fries were dry, french toast was soggy, and tofu was bland (substituted for meat selections). Service was friendly though and they do not accept cards, so we had to run to the ATM.
(2)
Nina H.
OMG someone roll me out of here!!! I can't seem to stay away. Every time I go I find something new to love. Omelets are divine. Pancakes are sinful. Price is perfect.
(4)
Yuka Y.
Sorella's is my favorite, no frills breakfast diner located in Jamaica Plains. About 10 minutes away from JP's ASPCA and literally across the street from Whole Foods. 50+ omelette options and the portions are always hearty. From pancakes to waffles, you are spoiled for choice here my friends. Amazing prices, ~$7 omelettes included with 2 pieces of toast. ++Recommend the Mexican omelette- the jalapeno peppers mixed with the melting cheese and salsa is great for my spicy fanatics. The owner with the Boston accent and the staff have always been sweet hearts. Martin's in Brookline used to be my favorite, but Sorella's is my new rave given that it's less claustrophobic. What makes a great diner is not only the food but also the atmosphere. I like my diners having this dated feel without the rushed service or the claustrophobic feels. I like my diners as a place where I can dress like shit, a place with the homey feels. The decor is charming. Stepping into Sorella's feels like a step back into the 80s. The walls are adorned with all sorts of knicknacks from certificates, colorful construction papers featuring hand written new menus, to a plaque of the state of Chicago. You can seriously play a game of "I Spy" with the things plastered along their turquoise-on-pink walls. All around a charming place, a Boston keepsake.
(5)
Mallory R.
At first glance, Sorella's seemed like a great place. I was charmed by the quaint decor and amazed at how huge the menu was. My two friends, one a carnivore and one a vegan, and I decided that we would always come here because everyone could find something they liked. However, as we examined the menu and the decor longer we started to fall out of love. Why are there FOUR sections devoted to omelets? You can choose from: Omelets, New Omelets, Exotic Omelets and Special Omelets. A section labeled Good Omelets would have probably been enough. This was on top of the other usual brunch fare such as breakfast burritos, crepes, pancakes and waffles. I've watched enough Kitchen Nightmares to know that a menu that is too large often means that the quality cannot be assured. It calls for too much product to be kept on hand, and for the kitchen staff to be pulled in too many directions. I ordered a fruit crepe, my vegan friend ordered the vegetarian hash with 2 scrambled eggs (don't judge, it's her life) and my other friend ordered a breakfast burrito. As we waited for our food we began to see the decor for what it really was: cheap. The room we were in had a bay window in the front that was sporting one lacy curtain on just one of the window panels. There was a lot of cheap art from Bed, Bath & Beyond and they hung identical paintings right across from each other. I honestly have no idea what kind of atmosphere they were trying to set here. It all just made me worried about what the back of the house (the kitchen) looked like. When we did receive our meals, our growing fears were addressed. Our plates we haphazardly thrown together. My vegan friends meal looked like a mess and she found bacon in her vegetarian hash. My crepe was completely uncooked and seemed to be held together with fluff. It was good, for what it was, but it wasn't what I was expecting. My other friends breakfast burrito was huge but nothing to write home about. We ended the meal with an agreement that we would go to City Feed and get some good coffee and snacks that would actually be worth our money. We decided ice cream sundaes were necessary as well. Overall, the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't feel good about the meal I had. It just seemed like a dirty restaurant. If they were to trim down their menu and clean up the place I think I would return but for now it's off my radar.
(1)
Alexa B.
I had the cornbread French toast. My goodness it was fantastic. The staff was friendly and everyone who walked in was treated with a smile. Despite being full everything showed up quickly and cooked perfectly!! Definitely worth a visit!
(5)
Michael W.
As we walked in to this restaurant we were greeted from across the room with a loud bellowing "for two?" from a giant warrior-of-a-man behind the counter. We either nodded or perhaps we shook our heads vertically in terror, I can't really be sure. The gentle giant made his way to our table with a friendly "good morning!" and provided us with menus for which to plan our conquest. Miss Sarit got her usual eggs over-easy and home fries, I went a bit savage and got in touch with my Portuguese heritage and ordered the spicy Portuguese omelet. As it was laid upon me, I tilted my head back; challenge accepted. I laughed at the option of substituting ingredients for tofu or even tempeh. I readied my utensils of war and strategized a battle plan for attacking this Goliath of a foe. Shall I try a slingshot? Nah, that's been done in biblical times. A fork and a knife? Now there's a challenge worthy of my breakfast plate. As I cut in to my enemy, the spicy sausage and cheese split apart like sausage and cheese will when in the presence of greatness. As I sampled my enemy's defenses, I could not help but to savor the sweet sensation of chaotic dominance. Shall I go for the sausage? The cheese? The peppers? The jalapenos? Salsa? Home fries!? Go big or go home, or as we like to say in Portugal, "Go big-o or go el casa-o." I went for it all. I emerged victorious, and did mi familia proud. This plate is worthy of temptation. Give in to your indulgences and taste the suppleness of victory again and again. Revisit, and conquer a new dish; they have plenty to last you a lifetime. So many in fact, that they ran out of space on the menu and began listing them on the walls. Sorella's - Jamaica Plain, Boston's establishment of choice for the breakfast Conquistador within us all.
(4)
Natanya A.
They have a wide selection of food, but it's all kind of bland. I do like that they're very vegetarian and vegan friendly. Cash only.
(3)
Danielle R.
This place is truly family-friendly and delicious. Not only is the restaurant itself incredibly spacious (with ample seating available in their two dining rooms), but their menu is also so lengthy that everyone is sure to find something they'll enjoy for breakfast/brunch. We ordered the two omelette specials, the Romeo and Juliet, and thought they were both terrific. I've never seen a larger omelette selection anywhere in Boston. We also ordered the Greek French Toast, which was a recommendation by our waiter. It was also very good; the bread was similar to challah which is classically known to be great for french toast. Minus one star because the service can be slow and the restaurant itself is slightly off the beaten path. Definitely a cute spot to seek out, though!
(4)
Cassie C.
We really wanted to like this place, but they just dropped the ball too many times. We put our name in, only to have multiple parties called before we finally went in to ask (including a party called multiple times) - our name had gotten crossed off. We finally got to sit and then it took a bit to get our order in. After that, things mostly improved - server was cool, pancakes and cornbread french toast were very tasty. The savory was good but nothing extraordinary. Overall, it just seemed pretty disorganized.
(3)
Carolyn P.
My husband and I enjoyed the atmosphere. We sat in the front with the doors open which was great with a cafe feel and our waitress Jess was very personable and great to talk to. We ordered appetizers for our first visit and the bacon wrapped steak was excellent along with the portobello mushroom and peppers. The owner came over to greet us and it was just a very nice relaxing experience. We will be back!
(5)
Ia J.
A solid 'meh' for the breakfast burrito. Can't speak to anything else on the menu.
(3)
Brian L.
Brags (+): Dependably good. I've only been there for brunch, but I always go there knowing get a satisfying meal. The menu is expansive, although it does seem like they just made a name for every conceivable permutation of their ingredients. The cornbread french toast is excellent, and every kind of omelet I've gotten has been nom-tastic. Beats (-): The food can be a little slow at times, and the setting isn't the most comfortable. I would bump it up to 5 stars if the environment was a bit more comfy/sleek. Variance (~): Unfortunately, every time I've been to Sorella's, they take us to the extension seating area, which is up through a separate entrance outside the main door. It just doesn't seem as nice as the main area, but the food is the same, ostensibly.
(4)
Casey W.
Very quaint restaurant owned by a helpful, local gentleman. We had a great breakfast and felt very welcome while we were there. Definitely plan on going back in the future
(5)
Joshua D.
I used to love this place, until I came here too often and saw their flaws. Here are the problems with Sorella's: They don't care about you, and when I say this I mean because they are usually so busy the service is lax and comes with a slight bit of superiority, like they don't need your business because business is booming. THe food they serves isn't always fresh, My friend has been served rotten raspberries before and they didn't seem to mind. They don't give you a receipt that anyone but the person who wrote it can read and when you ask for a readable written slip, they get real upset. The major problem is they don't care.
(1)
Lydia V.
I love this place! It's my favorite brunch place in Jamaica Plain! They specialize in exotic omelettes and savory crepes! Their freshly squeezed is amazingly addicting but expensive. It's small and cozy. Cash only!
(5)
Bruce R.
This place made me think, "this is what you would get if you let a bunch of children play restaurant with a real restaurant." I would call it quirky and amusing if there weren't so many flaws Starting with the horrible coffee. You can get better java at 7-11 than that swill. Obviously they are cutting corners by using the bare minimum grounds, just enough to get the water to change color. A ludicrous, overblown and repetitious menu. 8 solid pages of small print basically repeating over and over small variations of the same dishes. YOU CANT CRISP THE %#&*@^& BACON??? HOW DO YOU SCREW UP BACON!!! So yeah, shitty bacon. Not just poorly cooked, it was really cheap, low quality thin bacon that was a flabby, anemic disappointment. Home fries were so-so. Omelet was thrown together very carelessly. Mushrooms were the featured ingredient, and there was exactly ONE sliver of mushroom in that omelet. "Specials" written in highlighter taped to EVERY wall. To read them, you would have to wander around between tables and lean over some poor diner to read them. There were no less than 20 "specials" taped up all over. When you have like, 200 items in your menu (not exaggerating) you need this too? Also, the place has two dining areas with different entrances, so you can't even get to whatever culinary nightmares are taped to the walls on the other side. Probably for the best really... Zero ambiance. White walls and lots of handwritten "specials" taped all over the place. Brusque, bordering on surly waitstaff. One positive; the price is reasonable for a large breakfast. It would be more reasonable if the food was any good.
(2)
Kayla B.
My cousin and I were looking for a good breakfast spot last minute on a Saturday morning. so of course I go to my trusty yelp app and realize I have this place bookmarked. I know how people get with breakfast on the weekends so I called ahead to see if there was a wait. When the waitress shortly said "no" and hung up I was thrown off but I still wanted to try sorellas. When we got there it was kind of confusing to find but we eventually found the steps upstairs to the restaurant. It's a really interesting vibe. It's basically an apartment turned restaurant. The menu is fantastic though!!! There are pages and pages of options from sweet to savory. I find that most breakfast places really focus on one or the other, so to see so many creative options for both palates was dope. I have a sweet tooth so I went with the cornbread French toast. And OMG. The cornbread is so moist soft and flavorful I didn't even put syrup on it. The whipped cream and strawberries were enough. My cousin had the Scott's Special I believe it's called. The 3 eggs, home fries, bacon, and toast. Boring, but she had no complaints and she is a picky eater. The staff was very nice and I will definitely be back there soon. It's cash only though which sucks because I never carry cash
(4)
Mk E.
Sorella's is the best place to get breakfast in JP. Possibly anywhere. (I dunno, I guess there are a couple other continents? I haven't visited them all.) Everything is delicious, the menu is huge, and the prices are as right as they get, particularly if you make it in time for an early bird special. I recommend the raspberry butterscotch pancakes, and I don't even LIKE pancakes. Plan ahead on the weekends, as the place gets packed (though they do open up the second dining room).
(5)
Leesha Z.
We stumbled upon Sorella's on a late Sunday morning expecting there to be a wait. We walked in and to our surprise, there was plenty of seating. Sorella's looks more like you've just wandered in to your grandmother's house. The decor isn't all too great. Mismatched and bland. I could care less though, I was there for the food. The menu itself is massive. So much to choose from! After about 5 minutes, I decided to order the breakfast burrito and my boyfriend got the cornbread french toast special. My burrito was massive. I could only get through about half before tapping out. The flavors were good but there was a little too much cilantro for my taste. The cornbread french toast however was out of this world. It was fresh, moist and it came with the most delectable home made whipped cream on top which I could've just eaten that alone. Huge portion again. All of this came to about $25 with two fresh squeezed OJ's on the side. Not bad at all. I'll come here again for sure to try maybe their crepes!
(4)
Andrea L.
I would eat here all the time if I could! So many choices and everything that was served looked delicious, as were my ginger, blueberry, hazelnut pancakes. Owner omnipresent and helpful. Great neighborhood legacy business in a sea of newcomers to JP.
(4)
cath e.
Kind helpful w children Homey not fancy( who cares?) Quick service when it's not mobbed All kinds of choices for omelets and spicy choices for hot stuff people Locals are very happy here
(4)
Ross L.
One of those places that's instantly familiar and where you feel instantly at home. At the entrance there's news articles praising the pancakes along with Zagat ratings too. The plain old regular pancakes were some of the best I've ever had and there's a ton of fancier varieties to chose from too. Egg was scrambled perfectly. The prices and portions are also extremely reasonable.
(5)
Yvens G.
Not impressed... no care was put into mt breakfast. Best part was finding what seems to be a eyelash in my food. ...and in the 2014 they do not accept credit/debit cards.
(1)
Nikki C.
Atmosphere was EXTREMELY loud. I has to yell at my friend sitting across from me. Service was slow and poor. The menu reads like a book. I was overwhelmed. Food is ok. Not high quality or inspired, but ok. Not stuff you can't get anywhere else. I got the steak tips and eggs (poached). The steak tips were dry, chewy and not cooked how I specified(medium), well done. They appeared to be precooked, then seared, they were luke warm. Home fries portion was skimpy and potatoes were not cooked fully, still mealy and a little hard. My poached eggs were also well done and not properly poached, both yolks were solid (disappointing). My poached eggs were also put on top of my toast, making the toast soggy. The coffee was also terrible. It tasted a bit like soil. I ate with other people and we were unable to read the hand written reciept we were given, other than the total in black sharpie. A friend, who coincidentally arrived at the restaurant for brunch 15 minutes later, boasted her meal's and home frie's superiority was due to the fact she was a regular. That doesn't rub me the right way. I'll go back if someone else insists, but I wouldn't make the effort myself.
(2)
Anthony L.
(Breakfast review) Before going to Sorella's, do yourself a favor and tap into your cravings before you go in. The menu is daunting, but in a great way. It's *HUGE* and there are other random choices that are scattered on the walls. Seriously, huge. My experience very much reminded me of Seinfeld's "The Soup Nazi"... when my waiter (a really nice tall/large man) came over, I felt the urge to say, with a straight face, "PUMPKIN PANCAKE - COFFEE - WATER - SYRUP" without even saying "please, thank you, and may I have." Whatever, it's their culture and I need to adapt. The portions are large and the food is, wait for it, amazing. Everything is reasonably priced, which brings me to the next thing, it's cash only... bring your cash.
(4)
Alex J.
Went for brunch this weekend and immediately regretted it. Staff was clearly overwhelmed, so we got bad food and worse service. The polenta dish I ordered was bland and poorly conceived, and the banana walnut french toast was an offense to the very idea. It was more like pieces of dense banana bread thrown on a griddle. Took an hour to get a refill on my tiny cup of coffee. Don't waste your time.
(1)
Ad P.
Wonderful neighborhood gem. Come with an empty belly, leave with a full one and your taste buds satisfied. Try fhe Texas French Toast, pumpkin walnut pancakes, and the Neptune Omelet (among the 9 million options...)! Tip: go early; cash only as of 2014.
(5)
Dan G.
I can't believe I haven't written about Sorella's yet! Been coming here off and on for the past few months and I love it. Good luck finding parking though if you decide to come during peak times. The downstairs room can get REALLY hot as it is very small and a little too cozy. The wait staff are always amazingly friendly and full of love, I love them! The food is delicious and huge, plus they have a ton of very creative omelets to choose from! Or make your own. One thing that makes me sad...they always forget part of my order :( and are usually so busy that they still forget it :( :(
(4)
Hannah R.
In my mind, there are three downsides to Sorella's: 1) it's cash only, and 2) they don't serve bloody marys, and 3) there must be 100 menu items at least--so hard to choose! I lived down the street for awhile, and I ate here nearly every weekend. Someone mentioned in their review how fun it is to see OKCupid morning after dates happening there--I can attest that it is a great game to play spot the awkward. The food is always filling, and even if you ordered the same thing every time, it would probably be different with each order. The variety and creativity of the ingredients is truly amazing, and no one would ever expect it to judge this place from the outside. I highly recommend the Neptune omelet. It has seaweed salad in it!
(4)
Yelena Y.
I think this place is over rated. Staff is incredibly friendly bit the food was bland and boring.
(3)
Joseph Z.
Terrible service and very mediocre food. We were not told the hours and then rudely rushed in and out. Looked like a quaint family place with interesting and appetizing menu items that turned out to be a major disappointment. Avoid this place if you can.
(1)
Adria R.
I'd give this place 2.5 stars if I could. Not great, not horrible. I really wanted to like it, because I love non-fancy/non-trendy diners and this is definitely neither. I also like a little quirk, which this place had. I didn't mind the weird/random decor and the menu was certainly an entertaining read. The good: We were able to be seated right away at 11am on a Sunday. The wait staff was prompt, if not particularly friendly. There is no lack of menu items, quite the contrary. If you stick to the basics, eggs, toast, etc. you'll probably be satisfied. The bad: -They only accept cash. -The coffee was horrible. Poor flavor and so weak that when the server came to refill I held off (which I never do), because the coffee was the color of strong tea. -The menu is too large. This isn't always a bad thing, but there must be some organization to the menu items (rather than dishes comprised of randomly thrown together ingredients). And the list of ingredients they have to keep on hand is so extensive that I would question the quality and whether they even have a kitchen/pantry big enough to safely accommodate it all. -The food was mediocre at best. My omelette was missing the avocado it should have had in it, and my husband's omelette was about twice the size of mine with the same amount of ingredients. Both omelette's had a HUGE pile of chopped RAW garlic in them. I love garlic, but this was So. Much. Raw. I'm still tasting it near bedtime. The bacon was undercooked, and the home fries were unevenly cut and mushy. All this said, if I lived nearby and didn't have to go out of the way, I'd probably go back. Maybe I'm a glutton for breakfast that I don't have to make myself!
(2)
SR F.
Several years ago my wife and I went to Sorella's and hated it.. wanting to stay local today, we decided to give it another try. What a pleasant surprise.. move over Mike's and Victoria's ( Center St Cafe is now closed). We arrived just before the kitchen closing hour, but my finger wagging wife prevailed and they were kind enough to accommodate us. ( We had called and seating is open until 1:30, nonetheless). Shared a great Denver omelet, fresh squeezed oj, has browns close to perfection, homemade muffin, real butter ( all was very good and the muffin was great!) Two faults: better coffee, and for me the perfect breakfast place has to have homemade corned beef for the hash and bathroom was unkempt; ergo the 4 stars. We will be going back.. menu was varied with creative selections, too late today for the specials ( corn bread french toast??!!) ummmm picky ones ~
(4)
Karen R.
To quote my friend: "This place is so JP that it almost hurts." And she would be absolutely right. I was super impressed by the extensive omelette menu (which included many vegetarian options). I ultimately settled on an omelette that had capers in it (yum!). Service was generally pleasant and efficient. I deducted 1 star for two reasons: It drives me crazy when places are cash only and the interior was a little confusing (we definitely entered through the wrong door). Overall, I'm looking forward to making a return trip.
(4)
Margaret N.
We went to Sorellas yesterday for a late morning breakfast and had one of the most disappointing dining experiences I have ever had. Our waitress was obviously "in the weeds", eventually (after at least 15 minutes) a guy came over and took our order. We asked for refills on our coffees (when we left 60 minutes later we had still not received the coffee we continued to ask for). When breakfast arrived 3 out of 4 at our table were served, no mention was made of whether mine was on it's was. The maple syrup we ordered (and paid for) also never arrived for anyone's order. I eventually (at least 5 minutes later) asked if my meal was coming- the guy went to check, came back and said it would be another 3 minutes. After 5 minutes he came and delivered an unordered (and unwanted) bowl of fruit to tide me over until the pancakes were ready. This fruit had quite obviously been removed from another table, there was butter on the orange slices and was just a disgusting offering. 10 minutes later he delivered my pancakes in a take out box, we had mentioned that we were running late and he took it upon himself to assume I would prefer to eat my pancakes in the car???? He dropped our check, they are handwritten and completely illegible (probably why the kitchen never got my order in the first place)- he told us we had not been charged for my breakfast however when we did the math it was quite obvious that we had been (along w/ $6 of maple syrup that we never received). Because we were in fact in a hurry we just paid and left (leaving the now unwanted to go pancakes). While I can certainly understand honest mistakes this was probably the worst string of events that I've ever experienced in a single meal. Throughout the entire process neither our waitress or the guy who had continued dealing w/ us were remotely apologetic or helpful. We will never go back to this sorry excuse for a restaurant.
(1)
John S.
Dude, who designed the menu for this place? It's longer than those receipts you get at Shaw's that come with like 70 coupons for shit you don't need! Actually, in some ways, the menu actually reminds me of those receipts. The people who have served me at this place have always been friendly...even when I have to ask for help navigating like 20 food items that are all labeled 'funky.' It all looks good, so I always go with whatever tell me to eat. If you don't feel like warming your server up in order to get high end food, bring your overly social / enthusiastic friend(s)! That's what I do. I met the Big Guy who worked there for 15 years...he's still working there. He told me a legend of a time not so long ago when JP wasn't filled with aging hippies and baby boomers and whatnot. He said it was rad and that the crowd at Sorella's was actually cool. It made me feel like I was in on the whole thing - part of the cool table just for acting like I was interested! It was an unmistakable feeling of superiority that took over my stomach and mind, but coated in so much reminiscence that it was difficult to digest... Anyway, my food was pretty good, too, and at an acceptable (if not particularly amazing) price point. So why is it that I don't totally want to go back? Maybe I just get the feeling that this place is Past Its Prime like so many of its patrons? Maybe I don't need that level of nostalgia with my breakfast? Maybe I'll stop back in a year or so, sooner if the other places in the area go out of business. I really can't be bothered to go back sooner.
(3)
Sarah H.
I really like Sorella's, but I don't have high expectations for them (does that even make sense?). The food I've ordered has been great every time, but I've experienced friends or people sitting around me who had orders that tasted terrible or contained things that shouldn't have been in there. The staff are very unfriendly (don't expect any smiles or politeness) but I'm able to look past it as long as they aren't downright rude. The receipt is NEVER legible, and don't even bother asking them for one that's clearly written (or you'll get attitude). I usually have to ask them to clarify what exactly I'm being charged for to make sure I'm not being overcharged. The food itself is really good as far as I'm concerned, which is what keeps me coming back. And they have TON of choices! Also, they rarely do substitutions, so if you're a picky eater I wouldn't recommend this place.
(3)
Lily B.
Wow, what a disappointment. My friend and I met up at Sorella's for breakfast on a Saturday morning. First, we ended up in the "no waitress" zone and had to plead for someone to take our order after 15 minutes of no attention. I ordered a breakfast burrito - that should easy, right? Instead I got a eggs mixed with sliced tomatoes (sliced? in a burrito?) which were cold with other vegetables that were also cold. And the burrito was folded as if a 3-year old did it and was stale. To top it off, my friend's sunny-side up eggs were delivered with the yolks broken - huh? Sub par food, sub par service, super sub par experience. What a shame.
(1)
Jessie S.
I came here with my buddy for lunch and was not disappointed! I ordered a sandwich from the front of the menu, it had no name but consisted of egg, tomato, avacado, "hoomus," pepper, an unlabeled cheese and other stuff I can't recall. There might have been sprouts? Anyway it was delicious - while the ingredients were nothing special in name they were of impeccable quality, you could taste how fresh everything was and the flavors complimented eachother wonderfully. My vegetarian compatriot asked for a menu item with no meat and our server immediately offered to replace it with tofu or tempeh which I thought was kind of amazingly considerate. Good simple food done well with delightful staff. I'd return here!
(4)
Gillian W.
I feel like some of these reviews must be talking about a completely different restaurant than the one I visited today. Sorella's is brightly decorated in a sort of Mom's kitchen way that I found very inviting and comfortable. The gentleman serving the dining area was attentive and friendly. The banana chocolate chip pancakes were the best pancakes I have ever had! They were somehow crispy on the outside and cake-like on the inside! My boyfriend also enjoyed the Chicago omelette. For a person who rarely takes a moment to observe their food before inhaling it, even HE had to note that the vegetables were perfectly cooked. I did not have any of the "brown water" coffee that everyone on here is whining about but I cannot imagine it would be anything offensive enough to lower my rating. We will definitely return :)
(5)
Emily M.
This is a fun place to get breakfast! There is a huge menu with a lot of unusual choices (butterscotch raspberry pancakes was my most recent breakfast there). Don't forget to check out their choices all over the wall! There are a lot of good ones up that aren't on the menu! Their irish breakfast being a good example (this breakfast takes up four plates). The only thing I would say to stay away from is their crepes. There are many options that sound good, but the crepes themselves always have a weird chalky dry taste. Every other meal I've had here I've loved. Don't forget to bring cash!
(4)
Laura A.
this review is for their omelette's and toast. the omelettes are original, FULL of awesome fillings (e.g., goat cheese, pine nuts, sprouts), and there are so many choices that it's hard to go wrong. coffee is sweet to order, lil' mugs with lil' cups of cream. prices are good. service is ok...did i mention prices are good? yum.
(4)
Jeff O.
Been coming here for a few years now. The food is always quick and tasty. You might find yourself waiting outside for a table on a busy saturday, so pick a warm day to go. The menu is filled w/ crazy options most of which are time tested. I am a big fan of any of the pancake / french toast options on the menu. Sometimes the omelets can be a little too crazy for me.
(4)
Jessica F.
Dear Sorellas - I have worked in restaurants since I was 15 (8 years). I get it - it's a Monday-holiday brunch and you don't have more than 2 people on the floor. I'm not expecting speed or attention - barely even friendliness. What I did expect this morning was a pancake WITHOUT plastic wrap in it that I almost choked on. Even then, not that bad, because things happen, but I expected an apology when I pointed it out! I expected the replacement pancake to have chocolate chips in it like the original order, but neither of those things happend. I didn't want sass when I asked for a fork after you took my first one. I don't care that you're cash only and don't use computers, but when I ask for a legible receipt so I could ensure that you weren't actually charging me $4 for that SINGLE pancake (you were), don't give me even more attitude. This isn't the only time I've had trouble at Sorella's. Impossible with substitutions (if you're going for the vegetarian special you HAVE to get multi-grain pancakes when the Big Guy's aunt/mom is working - obviously all vegetarians are HEALTHY), moldy fruit on the waffles, and inattention to food allergies. Additionally, potato hashbrowns have cheap seasoning and are rarely cooked through, the coffee is more expensive than something that you can find elsewhere in JP that is either organic and/or fairtrade, and you charge 1.25 for anything other than American cheese. I've overlooked all the above things for years because I like to solicit small family restaurants, but after today, never again. Enjoy that exuberant tip we left you despite all of this bologna because it isn't your poor server's fault that you never have more people on, but I will pay twice your outrageous prices at Centre Street or City Feed from now on.
(2)
Christine V.
Best breakfast place in JP! You have to go at least once. They only accept cash and have been in business for 30 years. The nicest people work here. The food is homemade and delicious.
(5)
Peter G.
Sorella's is a great little restaurant to come for breakfast in JP. The selling point here is the range of the menu options: there is nearly an overwhelming amount of quality breakfast choices. We enjoyed the Eggs Rockefellar and a steak omelet: both were delicious and obviously hand-made with fresh ingredients. Surprisingly, I thought the food quality exceeded the price they were charging for it. The restaurant has a strong following, so be prepared for a wait during peak hours. Downsides: namely the size, especially downstairs. It can get cramped, and it's unfortunate that so many people enter via the downstairs, providing a constant draft during the winter and standing very close to sitting patrons. Although we walked, I didn't see much in the way of parking besides the street. Also, not accepting plastic is inconvenient. All things being equal, Sorella's gives arguably the best value of casual breakfast in downtown JP - you can't go wrong with this menu. However, despite the food quality, the price is indicative of the restaurant's drawbacks. If they only had more space, this would be a solid 4.
(3)
T C.
We've lived in JP for 10 years and go to Sorella's a few times a year. It's usually a quirky, tasty, and reliable place. Not fancy by any means. This morning, was really gross and disturbing. Two of our meals (both involving eggs) had hair in them. And then when we tasted the pancakes and waffles that we ordered, they tasted really foul: sour and not fully cooked, perhaps spoiled. We told the waiter and he seemed unconcerned. We encouraged him to have someone taste something made with the batter so that they wouldn't serve anything made with it to anyone else. He didn't really respond. At least they took the cost of those items off the bill. And all of the food was served cold. It's wasn't very busy. My hash was also super soggy. But we won't be back, ever.
(1)
Allison B.
I had been looking forward to trying this place for a few weeks, sadly - wasn't even given the chance to do so! I stopped by on a Saturday to be greetly rudely by what I can only assume was a waitress. She quickly yelled out to me and my boyfriend that we had to go "3 doors down." I was taken a back as there were FOUR empty tables and turned to see what my boyfriend wanted to do. Before I could even asked, she yelled once more at use. Needless to say, we left and didn't "go three doors down." Very disappointed and would NEVER try this place again.
(1)
Cagen L.
The idea of Sorellas is great. Reasonably priced creative dishes with great ingredients. Unfortunately something is lost in the execution. The food comes out quickly but there is little to no pride taken I'm the preparation. Its like some one who loves food designed the menu and then it is cooked by interns. If you need a quick breakfast and don't care how it tastes this is the place for you other wise steer clear.
(1)
Nicole C.
This was one of the worst breakfast I've ever eaten. From the moment we sat down and brown swill water was placed in front of us, I should have known that we should leave. For one thing, despite the plethora of vegetarian and vegan options, the potatoes tasted like they had been in bacon grease. I didn't mind (since they were otherwise entirely flavorless) but the vegans in my group were displeased. I ordered the Acapulco polenta dish, which I was quite excited about. I expected it to be flavorful and fresh tasting (swill water aside). Instead, I was given bland polenta with no sign of the advertized jalapeno peppers. The guacamole tasted like diapers and (bizarrely) it was topped with broccoli, bland mozzarella cheese, and marinara sauce that had clearly just been opened and poured on top. Umm....what? It was disgusting. The others at my time didn't fare much better, although my partner's pancakes were decent. The horrible food aside, the service was ridiculous. The restaurant seems to be severely understaffed so the staff takes an intensely focused approach to managing everyone's needs. What these actually means is that bring you disgusting coffee (which they'll only refill once before charging you for a second cup) and then they ignore you for 25 minutes while they deal with other tables. Then they descend on you, brusquely demand your order, and bring your food out quickly since, you know, they just open up some cans and jars. The restaurant itself would possibly be charming if it weren't so dirty. The decor is a mix of Christmas bow, fake flowers, and "art" that looks as it it were taken from a Holiday Inn. I used the restroom (meh) and got a glimpse into the "cleaning closet". It was covered in a thick layer of grime and general filth. In retrospect, I realize that I didn't see a health score posted anywhere. Yes, it was cheap, but then I spent more money on decent coffee and a snack to get replace the awful taste in my mouth. Never. Again.
(1)
mzamar x.
Another of the "am I missing something?" group. The food here is just sort of unspectacular and sometimes downright not good greasy spoon kind of affair. Also, as a bonus, I often feel nauseous when I leave. Like, are they washing the glasses out? Why are people so into this place? In a word, no.
(2)
Fernanda P.
Great food! Loved the Toni's omelet. Live in JP and will definitely come back
(4)
Sarah S.
The reason that this place has either 5 or 1 star depending on the reviewer is that they have an excellent menu that that cannot do justice to on the weekends. There is a huge selection of omelets and pancakes to chose from, and they're delicious - if you go at a time when they're not so busy that you are served cold undercooked food. They expanded their dining area but not their kitchens about 3 years ago, and compounded their problems. The service on the weekends is slow, and the food is often undercooked or shoddily assembled. Go on a weekday morning and you get to experience what they are capable of.
(3)
Amelia E.
Pretty good!! SO many choices of things to eat!!!
(3)
Erin H.
People seem to love this place, and in a recent visit, I too enjoyed the large omelette with huge potatoes on the side. I went on a Sunday, a popular time for the brunch establishment. While chatting with my friends, I kept an eye on the open tables; I did not want to take too long at my table talking if there were people who were waiting to get in. The whole time I noticed that a few tables maintained empty the entire time: a table for four and a couple tables for two. I was shocked when we were then hurried out and asked to pay because "there was a line outside." Really? A line? Then why the empty tables? We paid and left, and told the people waiting outside to complain because there were empty tables inside. I probably won't go back.
(2)
Tori O.
Do not get the vegetarian hash. It was terrible and looked like compost. The only interesting thing is the fact that they have basically everything you could want to be put in pancakes or an omelette but quality goes down with the increased quantity. It also is very cheap but there are much better places.
(2)
Korri Leigh C.
As long as you can handle the A.D.D. process of trying to figure out what you're going to order, the food is awesome. Sorella's is a perfect hungover Sunday brunch. You will be happy no matter what you choose after pouring over the huge menu and/or trying to pick something off the crazy walls. Be patient with the wait-staff, I know from experience that brunch service can be frazzling. Frazzling is that even a word?
(4)
Mitchell B.
It's by far one of the better breakfast joints in the Boston Area.
(4)
Amanda D.
Sorella's is the best breakfast place around for those of us that live in JP. The Center St cafe is in close competition, but their operating hours put Sorella's ahead by 1 point. Sorella's has the kind of creative breakfast menu that makes your mouth water while you try to figure out what to order. Whether you like savory or sweet when you first wake up, they have it all. I really like their crepes and omlettes. And fresh OJ too. While I have been quoted a wait time of 20 minutes on a weekend morning, I have never waited more then 5-10 minutes.
(5)
Elle R.
Sorella's has the worst service I have ever experienced. I went in on a weekday morning with two friends. Only a few tables were occupied and we were seated right away. And then the nightmare known as "customer service at Sorella's" began. We waited 5 minutes for menus. We had to ask the waitress for them twice. After another 5 minutes, she took drink orders. Three waters, one small orange juice and one large orange juice. She comes back with two small orange juices and no waters. It took asking her four times and 45 minutes to get water to the table. It was almost as though she was avoiding the hell out of us. Two tables were seated while we were trying to get her attention to order food. She took their orders before ours! We sat there for 45 minutes waiting to have our orders taken. We were on the verge of throwing $5 on the table and walking out to get food somewhere else when she finally took our food orders. The food was good, which is the only reason this restaurant gets stars, and didn't take a lifetime to come out. Our waters came with the food, but the waitress never checked in to see how it was or if we needed something (which, of course, we did... since our table lacked jelly and other condiments). Luckily, we had asked for the check with the food and she brought that speedily enough. I will never return here again, even though it is close by. The food does not make up for the unbelievably sub-par service. I got faster service from stoned hippie waiters at dive bars in Portland, OR.
(2)
Matthew M.
I like Sorella's. Though the quality of the food is nothing special, the sheer variety of interesting and unique items on the menu makes up for it. Where else on earth can you get macadamia-banana-peanut butter pancakes? Even though you might be able to make a more skillfully executed meal at home, it's worth paying the modest prices at Sorella's just for the chance to get inspiration from the menu, if for nothing else. If you're in JP and it's time for brunch, don't pass it up.
(4)
E.G. S.
Go to this place. You will almost not want to go anywhere else for breakfast again. On Sunday there may be a wait so bundle up if its cold. They have the most interesting combination omelets and pancakes on the planet. ordinary stuff too but you can go anywhere for that, right?
(5)
Kristen G.
Some of the most interesting and exciting breakfast options I've ever seen. If you're looking for a fun, decorative atmosphere in which to have your first meal of the day, this is your place. I've gone with large groups, and the food always comes out moderately fast and accurate to how it was ordered. Try this place sometime.
(4)
Lacey P.
This place has a kooky kindergarten atmosphere. Yeah they have 2 floors and an awe inspiring menu. It is vast and wide. But I feel like the waitstaff can't get it together, and I always wait a long time for my food and it is sometimes wrong. But there is very little breakfast going on in JP, so I guess this is tops.
(3)
sandra q.
Sorella's is a homey, affordable joint. Their selection of omelettes and pancakes is huge and I love their Oatmeal-Carrot-Walnut pancakes! The staff is down to earth and friendly, you might even be called 'Hon'. There's always a line out the door and the place is always bustling.
(5)
Kristina M.
What a disappointment! Having read all these raving reviews about their breakfast/brunch I headed out there on Saturday looking forward to a yummy brunch experience. Instead, I left feeling very dissatisfied. For one, even though they have about 300 options on their menu, there was exactly ONE dish that they were willing to make vegan. Hey, as a vegan I am used to being restricted in my food options, but I would have appreciated a little more willingness to accommodate us (especially since they explicitly encourage customers to inquire about specific dietary requests). Anyway, I would be willing to be forgiving about this if the one dish they offered would have at least been good. But it wasn't. The tofu stir-fry was pretty bad, the ingredients didn't look like they were high-quality or even fresh, and I had to pour a lot of hot sauce on it to be able to eat it. It wasn't exactly horrible and didn't make me feel sick either, but it was definitely not something I'd usually pay for. On top of that, the service isn't particularly friendly either (one of the waiters was OK, but the other was really quite grumpy). They also charged 5$ for an orange juice, which they claimed was freshly squeezed, but which in fact clearly was from a bottle. All in all, a really disappointing experience. (Admittedly, it might be a much better place for non-vegans, and I like the diner-style, which is why I give it 2 rather than 1 star, but as a vegan I can only say: Don't go!)
(2)
Kyle F.
i love your fantastic brunch foods. so tasty tasty. but i hate your stupid lines.
(3)
Roberto C.
Like the food but the people act like they're doing you a favor. If you can put up w/tired little hs hussies - still tipped them, but they can have someone elses bidness next time. Btw, almost every time I've been here either there is a UFO floating in my water or there's some sort of chap stick/lip stick smeared across the rim of my glass. Do yourself a favor, go to Centre St next door.
(1)
Exa V.
Let's get this straight. Sorella's is a diner. A creative diner, a cool diner, yes. It's still a diner. It's dirty like a diner, almost as cheap as one, and the coffee is about that good (read: not very good at all). Furthermore, it's a breakfast/brunch place, so show up after 10 and yeah, expect a wait. I've been to Sorella's twice and will definitely go again. I've had the vegetarian hash and eggs over medium, which was solid, and a #9 omelette with broccoli, tomatoes, red peppers, and jarlsberg cheese. Also solid. Some could complain that the vegetable chunks are way too big, but I love me some veggies and don't mind much. The flavors of both dishes were great, although I found the hash a little disappointing--I wanted more flavor in the tofu. I like the service--it's semi-efficient, heavy on the coffee and tattoos, and funny. I like the waitresses. On my last venture we had a very strange man who sat next to us. The waitress dealt with him very well, and we all had a good laugh afterwards. The menu is overwhelming huge, so I would suggest figuring out if you want savory or sweet (read: eggs or pancakes/french toast) and figuring it out from there. Or just have polenta. Whatever. The list of pancakes and french toasts looks fantastic, but I never end up ordering them for some reason. Probably because the omelettes are so awesome looking too--except for the ones with nuts! Who puts nuts in an omelette, for serious?! Anyway, I love Sorella's. It's a cool place. Yay.
(4)
Jamie A.
oh man, oh man, oh man! talk about CHOICES! this place has more than you've ever imagined for breakfast! On a darling street of JP right next to the Animal Hospital and the Milky Way, lies Sorella's, a little hole in the wall rounding the corner. I had read about it in my MAP BOSTON planner, so I was all psyched to try it out. I recommend going with one of those friends who loves putting both your plates in the middle of the table and sharing everything. We couldn't decide on sweet or savory, so we ordered the Gingerbread pancakes (w/ sour cream & fresh strawberries) and Toni's omelet (goat cheese, spinach, portobellos, sun-dried tomatoes, & sprouts on top). DAMN. Those pancakes were INCREDIBLE. I swear, sour cream is the secret ingredient to making everything more amazing. The omelet was also tasty, but we agreed that we like our omelets to have every ingredient in each bite, and the ingredients in this one weren't chopped at all, so they were rather awkward to eat. But anyways, be prepared to pour over a GIANT menu--complete with more specials ALL OVER the walls, & also be prepared to sit for awhile, as their service consisted of one girl. yeah. Plus, they've got legit coffee that you can drink black, which is a huge plus in my book!
(4)
Pickle P.
I really want to like Sorella's, I really do. After all, 10,000 lesbians can't be wrong! But friends and I have had too many raw veggie omelettes and the coffee is truck stop swill. One friend said flatly, "That was the worst breakfast I've ever had." They should edit the menu and concentrate on getting the basics down. Don't be fooled by the line of hipsters in those silly skinny jeans outside smoking Camels, they're not old enough to know better.
(2)
Lynette M.
Interesting breakfast options tons of pancakes and omelettes. I preferred the pancakes. Sometimes a weekend wait...
(3)
Daniel M.
Don't heed the doubters. Sorella's blueberry pancakes own. That is all.
(4)
Paul M.
The only reason I can't give this 5 stars is because of the ridiculously long wait for brunch on sunday. And the wait is long...expect to spend at least 30min waiting for a table. You can make reservations before 10am, but come on who is up that early on a sunday. This is pretty much the most perfect breakfest place ever, it took me forever to decide what to get because everything sounded so good. And it was. I may have to make Sorellas an every weekend kind of thing.
(4)
Melissa B.
Holy cow, this place is awesome. Excellent breakfast foods & worth the wait.
(5)
Thuy L.
Have you ever gone for brunch and wish there was more of a selection? If so, you haven't been to Sorella's. Talk about a wide selection, 4 pages of front and back brunch selections. Ten different bread choices for French toast; 30 different kinds of omelette options with every single kind of combinatioions of ingredients possible, and various breakfast burrito options. Portions are huge here. I got the James omelette with tomatos, spinach, gouda, artichoke hearts, olives, garlic, and about 5 other ingredients. My omelette was a little runny and the ingredients were not spread evenly through the omelette. There were portions of the omelette that had more artichoke hearts than others, portions that had more gouda than others, but it was pretty good. I also got a side of bacon--a litte bit greasier than normal but hey, it wasn't that bad. Aside from the slow service and the fact that they do not take credit cards can make it a little frustrating, but there is definitely something there for everyone.
(3)
Alex M.
A friend and I took the T all the way from Cambridge to get pancakes here and it was worth it. That should tell it all. The portions are huge for reasonable prices, the staff are friendly, the atmosphere is comfortable, and the pancakes are delicious! Vegetarian friendly, for sure. Too small for groups, but great for a cozy breakfast with a friend, or intimate.
(5)
Amanda S.
I can't believe it has taken me this long to try Sorella's- I will definitely be back. Omlettes were huge & packed with fresh veggies. I had Toni's Omlette with portobello, spinach, sun-dried tomato, and goat cheese, served with toast & great homefries. The menu has something for everyone whether you're looking for the average breakfast sandwich, or something a little more unique (lots of pancake, fresh toast, and omlette choices). The space is small, but homey. Give it a try! Unfortunately- cash only.
(4)
Laura A.
hmm, what to say about sorella's...i really really like it. everyone needs a little grease in their lives and you'll find it here. i like that they have vegan and vegetarian options. i like the lack of wait and the townie kinda attitude. it's the dirty dive of brunch places. however- my stomach ALWAYS feels upset after i finish eating here..i suspect they cook the homefries on the same grill as the meat or something because (as vegetarians on here know what i'm talking about, i'm sure) something just didn't sit right in my stomach. do i give it four stars for having a dirty grill? no...i'm giving it four stars for having vegan options, truckstop style brunch options for my gluttonous boyfriend who loves meat, and for brunch for four people totaling less than $30. and for having fucking POLENTA for breakfast. POLENTA! i love that shit! and covered with vegetarian chili no less...yum. avoid the home fries, veg-people!
(4)
Sarah S.
Yes, Sorella's has a "kooky, kindergarden atmosphere"--I'll give them that. But what lies beyond that, I'll tell you. Their breakfast options are so sorted, so random and wild, that the staff almost improbably follow suit. For the past several times I've eaten there (because it's the closest breakfast joint to my boyfriend's house) I've either been turned down at the door ("Sorry, we just closed"--Even when people have obviously just been seated and are still reviewing the menu!) or it's taken me extra-long to be seated. Yesterday was the final straw & that's why I'm writing. The wait was 30 minutes; and just as we passed this half-hour marker, all the parties after us were seated, well, before us, prompting my boyfriend to ask a waitress what's up. She said there were two tables ahead of us. How could that be? We'd gotten there over 30 minutes ago, done our penance, and now were watching everyone we observed arrive go break bread ahead of us. Of the food, the selections are great, but the quality is hit or miss. Sometimes my eggs are runny when I wanted them scrambled; my hashbrowns not cooked enough. And, what's worse, they're stingy with the napkins. Come on, Salmonella's. Stop being so schizo. Seat your patrons, serve your patrons, and don't gimme no lip. Make that with a side of extra napkins.
(2)
L-Train A.
Sorella's is a place that gets five stars in many categories, but then also has some one star stuff going on. They have an insane number of different kinds of omelettes. Insane. And the food is pretty darn good overall. It is kind of fun too because it is physically eclectic. It was originally two row homes, and you kind of weave around through different rooms to get seated. They ought to play this up, and make it feel kind of homey and cozy, but they don't. The one-star stuff is that they just aren't nice to you. Not mean per se, but just no warmth, smiling, etc., and I kind of feel relieved when we are done and it's time to go so I am no longer bothering these people by being in their restaurant. And the coffee is mediocre, but refilled constantly.
(3)
Heather K.
Sorellas is one of JP's hidden gems. Yes, it's kind of divey, yes, it's small and cramped, and yes, the waitresses can be a bit sassy but these qualities are all part of the charm. The omelet and pancake/french toast options are vast and I've never ordered something that I wasn't 100% happy with.
(5)
Christine C.
If I were writing this review a few years ago, it would have been much better. I used to think that this was the ultimate breakfast place. What changed? Well, I tried it again recently and was disappointed in the service (it took a VERY long time to order and get water filled) and the food (underdone food and a weird taste on the bread). I actually tried it TWICE thinking that maybe they were just having a bad day. It was bad both times. Sorry, Sorella's...
(2)
Katie W.
I am not sure what all the hype is about Sorella's. The first time I ate there I must have been influenced from rave reviews and the overwhelming menu. I ordered Andrea's Omelette and thought it was great. I ate there a few more times, ordering other things such as pancakes (which must have been cooked next to an omelette because they tasted like garlic), some vegetarian thing with tempeh which was nasty, and french toast (also tasting of garlic). I don't know if it was the fact that I noticed they put the food that's ready to be served in this little window down by the cook's feet, but the next time I ordered Andrea's Omelette I thought that was gross too. So if you don't know whether you want sweet or savory next time you go out to breakfast, head over to Sorella's and order yourself some pancakes.
(2)
Rachel G.
i used to live a block away from this place and it was dangerous! every weekend, forget waiting on the insane line to eat there...we would call ahead and get take out and eat in the comfort of our home with cartoons and pjs! the simple egg sandwich is perfect...however...it's all about the banana peanut butter muffins. they are beyond heavenly. like, freaking amazing! i've tried to make my own recipes and they just don't come out the same. the price is right as is the coffee. a nice little tough to jp!
(4)
Tim B.
My girlfriend and I prefer Centre St. Cafe for a basic breakfast but if you want a little something out of the ordinary Sorella's is great.
(4)
Bri T.
cheap cheap cheap! good food and (once you are seated) quick and friendly service. although it could be cleaner -- this is overall a great brunch place!
(3)
Paul I.
Great breakfast spot! Make sure to go on a weekend or holiday, when you can get into the upstairs. The menu is HUGE.. full of specialty omelets, pancakes and french toasts. And the walls downstairs are covered with additional menu items, dreamed up by customers, no doubt. The waitstaff is polite and kind, if not always prompt. Their mimosas have no orange pulp -- so pulp lovers beware! :)
(4)
Gail L.
Imagine EVERY ingredient possible, then choose about 10 or 12 of them, then have it made into the most tasty omelet you've ever eaten. The menu doesn't begin to hold all the options available to you...the walls are covered with many, many more, named after friends, employees, relatives and regular customers..it's a family run business, and they all work here. Fresh squeezed juice, vegetarian hash, and more kinds of pancakes than you've ever thought possible. My favorite...pumpkin cranberry walnut...you don't need syrup, but you can have fruit and whipped cream on top...only drawback is the coffee...not very good
(5)
Stephen S.
Sorella's is completely the jam for breakfast if you know what you are doing. Tiny crazy space crammed full of people and rad waitstaff, lines half as long as the ones for Centre St. Cafe, and the pancakes are like basically doing it in your mouth they are so good. HERE IS THE PROBLEM: They have a lot of crazy omelets that look insane and wonderful but which are just sort of like a pile of ingredients in an egg sleeve. So, for example, you might order the "Jennifer's Special" (or whatever) and then it comes and you take a bite and it is all EGG + RASPBERRY. But then the next one is just EGG + CASHEWS, and then suddenly you are wrestling with an entire half-avocado sitting in there and you slump over because the point of an omelet is that all the ingredients are friends, co-mingling with each other in a big egg playground. SO If you are a breakfast spartan like me and like your eggs over easy then it is a great place to go, but ALSO it is a good place to play a BREAKFAST PRANK.
(3)
mike G.
Really good breakfast. We got omelette's a split an order of banana mango pancakes. I the pancakes were good but I don't think its the best combo to order, and my eggs were a bit runny. Also, we had to wait for 40 minutes and it took a while to get our food. Overall I would go back. HUGE MENU!
(4)
Day B.
It's really hard for me to even give this restaurant three stars, because every time I go there something happens that isn't cool. However, they do have good food, so that counts for something. Otherwise, I cannot recommend them. First of all, I don't find their staff to be very friendly, and this is based on several visits over 4 years. They never smile it seems. Second, their food is way overpriced...to add blueberries to the pancakes, I've seen them charge $3-$4 extra, and that's unacceptable. Third, I've seen my order get messed up more than twice. Perhaps this stings more becuase I tend to go on the weekends, after I've been waiting a while and I'm hungry. I'd recommend going during the week or when it's not busy to avoid any problems.
(3)
Heather Q.
Eh. It's the place you go to show off to your out-of-town friends how cool JP is. And you will. I know you will. The menu is large and varied, and sounds good in black and white, but I've found the execution to be lacking. The pancakes are dry, and if I recall correctly, you pay extra for syrup. The waitstaff is more than a bit flakey. I've waited as long as 15 minutes for my check because nobody could remember to get it for me.
(3)
John D.
The menu at Sorella's raised my hopes for a delicious brunch, but ultimately, and on multiple occasions, I have left severely disappointed. Overall, the food is rather bland, but well put together. The prices are decent. My most serious misgiving is the service - AWFUL. They refuse to seat a party of 3 waiting for a 4th, and once your group is actually seated, you're likely to get one of their disinterested, unhelpful wait staff. Aside from the fact that the staff seem to hate you from the moment you enter, they are slow slow slow. Another disappointing brunch experience.
(2)
Sophie R.
Why is everyone so obsessed with Sorella's? Yes, they have a shitload of different options for your omelette or your waffles, but who cares if none of them are very good? Omelettes are stuffed with so many veggies (often still fridge temperature, I should add) that you can barely taste the thin layer of egg stretched around the bulging mass of innards. The toast served with your omelette will actually be soggy wonderbread, barely what one could call toasted. Your waffle will be topped with canned whipped cream that will have melted into a puddle on top of your defrosted strawberries or gelatinous blueberries, and will be served with crappy HFCS-laden "pancake syrup". Your bacon will be fatty and undercooked, served in a pool of its grease without draining. And Sorella's isn't even that cheap. If you got something with none of the fixings that might make it edible, or at least interesting, it'd be reasonable, but in that case you may as well just go to JP Licks for their Sunday morning waffles, and get better coffee to boot.
(1)
Julie F.
Sorella's is family owned and operated-something that happens to be rare now in Boston. Sure sometimes there is a line but so what? If you get there on the earlier or later side of weekend brunch then you won't wait. The choices are unbelievable. Now i read some complaints about the service. My family is from JP and we always say hello and talk to whoever is serving us and we have never had a problem. The problem is when college age students come in to a family eatery and talk at the top of their lungs, cursing,etc. I wish the staff would be meaner and kick out those folks to tell you the truth. Though not perfect, it is a little taste of what having a neighborhood bus. is like and worth the experience. If you want 5 star everything then pay a whole lot more for your gentrifying experience. Oh! if you want to get a vegan breakfast in un-vegan friendly Boston then this is the place. While you may not be able to eat the pancakes there are more vegan options then just a bagel so you won't feel hungry while your non-vegan friends are eating.
(4)
seana m.
Sorellas is my all time favorite breakfast/brunch spot. Sometimes the wait is terribble but I typically stick it out becasue the food is so good. It is cramped, not super clean and the staff isn't the friendlist. But the food rocks. I love the blueberry pancakes. They have mat, veggie, soy, endless coffee (high test and decaf), fresh squeezed juices, so many omlettes I can't even count em...and lots lots more.
(5)
Sean E.
This place makes me long for good ol' JP. There's really not that many things that do that to tell you the truth. I can totally understand someone thinking Sorella's is a bit overrated. But I've had so many breakfasts out and about in this town and not many can beat Sorella's. And just like many places, the reason is simple. Fresh ingredients. Fresh fruits and veg, fresh breads, nuts, and a fresh and unique menu. Their french toasts are wonders to be reckoned with -- you can get 'em with french bread or challah, and probably a couple others that I can't remember. Yes, the place is popular on weekend so be prepared for a wait -- but of all the times I've been there it wasn't get any longer than 10 minutes max. It's also true the waitresses can be a bit surly, but never offensive. With food this good that's okay with me. Writing this makes me want to Zipcar my butt down there pronto. Oh, and the paying for syrup line that someone wrote on here earlier is a laugh. Peanut butter and banana pancakes *drool*...
(5)
Bonnie G.
Sorella's is to Centre St. Cafe as: a)Rod Dees is to Brown Sugar Cafe b)Tello's is to H&M c)Rodney's book is to Brookline Booksmith d)Trader Joe's is to Whole Foods I think you're getting the point. Located at the rotary at Centre St. and Perkins St. (39 bus stops, 41 bus stops, Jackson Sq or Stoneybrook T stop on the orange line), this randomly two stories (random cause the two stories aren't on top of another) serves breakfast that will satisfy your hangover anger and lethargy. Around the corner (kind of) from Centre St. Cafe, one does love the polish and amazing organic food they serve (plus the host who looks like Anthony Keidis), but Sorella's got moxie and a resigned efficiency (kinda like when you stop by your friends house and her mom makes you an apple cinnamon pancake and plops it on your plate in silent resentment but you dont care cause it tastes good). Before you go, grab an iced coffee from Junebag Cafe across the street (or stop by JP Licks for some) and while you are at it grab juice- a large bottle of chug costs 4 bucks! I prefer the downstairs, but grab a host right away to get your name on the list and be prepared to wait (this is when your drink comes in handy). You can also call them ahead of time for reservations. They can sit two people or like ten. They have insane menu options scrawled all over the walls in lamenated slips, chalkboards, like fuckin Memento. These are ADDITIONAL to your menu! Special notes: On their omlettes option, you can replace the egg with tofu! All you vegan-heads out there-do it! I have tried a lot here, but the Nutty Pancakes (chock full of all kinds of nuts and chocolate chips) taste like Baklava and the best. Cheap ass mimosas. The waffles are fluffy and freeze well (I tend to overorder, ok?). They have special breads for the french toast. The omlettes are gigantic and I have yet to see anyone finish one. The home fries are a little too big, but not too greasey and definitely satisfying. Cash only. And yeah, take your out of town friends here to impress them, then take a walk around the pond. Nothin wrong with that.
(5)
Nicholas C.
Reasonably priced, relaxed breakfast spot in JP. Friendly staff that didn't rush us. I had the basic 2 egg, homefries, and toast (4.95), which was delicious. My friends had more complicated dishes, which they actually weren't so fond of, but my dish was soo good that I'll definitely be back.
(3)
matthew h.
I've been here for breakfast exactly once and although I try not to rate places after only one attendance I couldn't help it in this case. The breakfast menu is wicked freakin' huge. It's not even like a "oh look, they have a southwestern omelette," but rather a "holy crap you can put that on an omelette???" I'm sure not everything on the menu is bruncherific but show me a menu this big that is. I plan on bringing a notebook next time to make a list of the things I've tried. I see that some people have given the servers less than stellar results but ours was pretty good. We had to end up bringing the check up to the register but they were in the middle of a big table turnover so it was no big deal. I can't wait to try it again.
(4)
Aimee S.
I love this place. They have so many breakfast choices, it's quite hard to decide, but well worth it! Reading the menus gave me some great ideas for stuff to make at home too! The coffee was great and the food was tasty and well priced.
(4)
Matthew A.
Horrible hole in the wall with overpriced "gourmet" pancakes. Yeah right. Why do they serve tap water in old yellow plastic tumblers. Sitting shoulder to shoulder. Grungy looking female waitstaff with nose rings. I think I would rather eat at home. Thank You.
(1)
Kevin M.
This place is good... better than Mike's (In the south end)... but a little pricier as well... most items aren't bad (pancakes, french toast, etc..) but the fresh squeezed orange juice is $5! (They also offer the bottled Garelick OJ, a better value). The signs on the tables are written in magic marker on spare construction paper! But, the place has character... service is spotty (Some good, some not so good, but what do you expect?) Overall, good experience! Bathroom was VERY clean, which scores extra points in my book. and if you go, try the oatmeal pancakes... very light and tasty!
(4)
Meg K.
Massive portions, a creative menu, and great prices. Sorella's is my favorite place to take overnight guests for weekend brunch. You can get a platter-sized omelette with any combination of breakfast meats, cheeses, herbs, and vegetables, and breakfast breads with nuts, fruits, and sauces (gingerbread french toast was a recent favorite). There are plenty of vegetarian options as well. They have bland hash browns, but you'll have so much other food on your plate that they are unecessary. If you want a whole avocado or 5 strips of bacon in your omelette, or you think it would be fun to try brie and asparagus with eggs, or pumpkin pancakes with whipped cream cheese, try Sorella's. The service is hit-or-miss. You definitely want to be seated in the first-floor room. The last couple of times we have gotten the woman we refer to as "the worst waitress ever". She forgets parts of your order, and gets grumpy when you ask, "can I please have my toast now?" There also tend to be long waits, but a sign on the door says they have begun taking reservations. All in all Sorella's has a terrific menu and great prices, with mediocre service.
(4)
elizabeth l.
go to sorella's for an unparalleled and unexpectedly delightful breakfast experience, complete with yummy food, bitter coffee, sweet artwork, and a surly waitress (if you're lucky). with oodles of options, you'll be able to choose from the most unique selection of omelettes, waffles, and pancakes i've ever seen. keep in mind that this place is completely unpretentious, and the wait staff will probably ignore you. more likely than not, you will hear someone yelling in the kitchen. this is all part of the charm of dining in a restaurant that feels like someone's dysfunctional household. i recommend locating the bathroom because you get to practically walk through the kitchen to find it. you may laugh, you may cry, but you are guaranteed to have an unforgettable time.
(5)
Will C.
Sorella's is pretty damn good. The first time I went, I had hash and eggs, and they were awesome. They have great pancakes as well. That's all I really need. Hash thats not soggy, eggs cooked the way I want with a little cheese on top, and the option of some bomb pancakes. You do that well, automatic 5 stars from me. They're menu is pretty extensive outside of that too. My friend got the eggs rockefeller that looked effin tops. My only complaint is that their home fries have gotten progressively worse every time I've ordered them.
(5)
Gary L.
This place is pretty spacious, with three different rooms, one on the bottom floor (looks dark and smokey), and the other two on the first floor (bright and clear). The menu is large, including pancakes, muffins and omelette's, and all the American classics. Now, the omelet section is divided into FOUR sections. First I was impressed. However after reading further, I realized that the ingredients were all the same, but shuffled in different combinations. I looked for a omelet with meat, and most are vegetarians. (What?) I settled for the Chicago omelet, with spinash and bacon. Came with tasty potatoes and toasts. Everyone seems to be pretty happy with the breakfast. I guess this place is not into meat...?
(4)
Allison J.
Good service good food. We loved our waiter, Vinnie. I love the handwritten menu items on pieces of paper taped to the wall. But it's hella confusing and the menu is giant. Very cute place with great service. Characters... they're all characters. Love it. Portions were generous and the pancake assortment dizzying. Not the place to come to if you're on a diet.
(4)
Julia C.
I found this place to be unremarkable. To me, every item on the omelet menu seems to be a smorgasbord of random vegetables, with similar ingredients mentioned in different orders for different dishes, but named differently. Also, there weren't enough omelets that involved meat -- a big negative for me. I'm sure I could've customized an omelet to have meat in it, but I don't like hassling waitstaff with modifications, plus I like having plenty of meat-incorporated options already laid out and described in juicy details on the menu page. The place seemed to be a hit with the vegetarians in the group I went with, but alfalfa sprouts need to stay the heck OUT of my breakfast omelets.
(2)
Meg C.
If you like grumpy people serving you great omelets and pancakes, I have a place for you. Sure, this is not the place to go when you want to be coddled, but it is great for cheap, comforting food. The menu is huge and I kind of wonder who would order half the mixtures offered. First things first, you have to ask for the real maple syrup. I noticed that the regulars asked for it up front, they didn't even wait for the fake crap to show up at the table. We started with a muffin, grilled of course. I believe it was mango and ginger, the flavors were not overbearing. It was really, reeeeally good. Not too sweet or dry. I split banana pancakes and a denver omelet with my cousin. The pancakes were divine with the real syrup. I'm super picky about pancakes and almost never order them at restaurants, but these were great. Nice and fluffy, not tough at all. They came with bananas in the batter as well as fresh slices on top. I want to try the gingerbread next time, they sound heavenly. My omelet was solid, the veggies were cooked until just tender. The eggs were not overcooked, a regular mistake at many diners. The potatoes were kind of forgettable, as was the coffee. If they could just fix those two things, I'm sure it would be a 5-star business. Go on a weekday and you might not have to wait in line for an hour.
(4)
Vera K.
I really enjoyed my meal here with my friend. The atmosphere was nice, felt like being at a family member's house. My omelet was delicious, there were plenty of menu options, including scrambled polenta, which is a nice gluten free/egg free alternative for breakfast. Affordable! Seating was a little tight, felt like everyone next to me was hearing my conversation. Homefries were less than delicious. 2 customers had a melt down next to me after their order wasn't taken fast enough and they stormed out, which resulted in one of the chefs in the back coming out and grilling everyone if their orders had been taken, and the rest of waitresses frowning. I thought the customers who left were totally out of line to be so impatient, but the staff's reaction almost made it worse.
(4)
Evan G.
Possibly my favorite thing about Sorella's is their awning which says DINNER BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER. Why is this notable? Because they don't serve dinner. At all. Ever. What they are is a diner, and whoever got that awning made just can't spell. On to the food-- this place is great if you get the right things. They have a huge menu, but most of it is omelets with various combinations of ingredients. I usually get one of their really simple eggs and toast breakfast specials, which are hard to mess up. My eggs have always been cooked how I asked, and the homefries are awesome! Super crispy and flavorful. My breakfast buddies have ordered some pretty crazy omelets, and those are typically good too, especially if you really like a large filling-to-egg ratio. Coffee is endless and light roast. I like the endless, I do not like light roast, but given its quantity I can get over my nitpicky coffee-snobbery. Fresh-squeezed OJ is really delicious and worth the $3 or whatever it costs. Service here has usually been quite competent and efficient, with some good local sass thrown in for flavor. Patrons really run the gamut from the elderly to the tragically hip youth JP is so known for.
(4)
Jef S.
Finally...FINALLY...got to Sorella's! I've been wanting to go for quite a while. I had cornbeef hash and eggs. Eggs were tasty; the hash was sort of disappointing: very ground up, tasty, but not quite, I dunno, hash-y enough. Lacked some flavor. Home fries were okay...I'm glad I read up before I went here because I took the well done and extra pepper advice (and salt) and it worked out fine. My companion got (get this) pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes and graciously allowed me to taste. AMAZINGNESS! Oy, I wish I'd ordered those. Everything was just ok here. The room is small, clean, and reasonably no-frills. Service was fine but nothing special. Indeed, nothing distinguished Sorella's from any other diner style restaurant in Boston that I've been to...EXCEPT FOR THEM MOTHERF***IN' PANCAKES! Overall, Sorella's gets 3.25 stars, but I'm eagerly ready to adjust this upward on my next visit.
(3)
Meena M.
I have been to Sorella's many times, but am not sure if I will go again. Their food is cheap, the menu is expansive, and the portions are big. But they don't taste amazing. Actually, is tastes like something I make at home. Some times what I make at home tastes better. I don't really recommend it if you are looking for good brunch. You should go to Centre Street Cafe or Bon Savor for good brunch.
(2)
Caroline C.
How can you not love Sorellas? They have pancakes in EVERY FLAVOR. And I don't even like pancakes and I can still appreciate how exciting this is. But not just pancakes - omelets, french toast, sandwiches, crepes. The worst part about Sorellas is making a decision on what to eat. I'm not sure why a few people are griping about service . . .it's brunch, people. What's the big hurry? Heck, half the guests are in sweatpants or pjs. Brunch is about relaxing and catching up with your family and friends, not rushing though your lunch break. I've actually never had a problem with service - and I really appreciate the fact that they will go ahead and seat your friends, even though you may be twenty minutes or so late (Sorry, friends. I know it happens a lot. Sunday morning is hard.). And they never rush you out the door, even though you finish eating an hour ago. (Moreover, it's not like Sorella's pretends to be fine dining. It's an adorable, gruff, brunch place. Staff should not be fawning all over you, especially when you are wearing sweatpants. That would be weird.) A few specific recommendations: Do NOT have the vegetarian hash. It's is not delicious. The almond/kiwi/apricot/seasame seed french toast, however, is beyond tasty. So is the orange juice. The coffee is just okay, but passable and is always refilled.
(5)
Linda H.
Went for brunch today. Decent prices, but things do add up. Food was decent. As reported by others, they give you decent-sized portions. Lots of different options. Omeletes are fairly large. Lots of fillings in them, but a bit bland. But, better that I add my own pepper and ketchup than to have it too salty I guess. Also, if you're debating about the corned beef hash, my dining partner reports that it's from the can. Nothing spectacular about it I guess. So, a good option for breakfast if you're local and looking for a fairly inexpensive place with lots of choices.
(3)
Russ A.
I had visions of a new favorite breakfast joint when I walked into Sorella's for the first time and started flipping through the expansive menu. With specials like cornbread french toast, avocado in almost every dish and loads of veggie options how could you go wrong? Lets start with the good. Their coffee is decent and the server came by several times to refill my mug. Also, the breakfast sandwich I ordered was pretty solid (egg/cheese w/ avocado, sprouts and lox on everything bagel). What made me give this two stars is the fresh fruit bowl I ordered. It was pretty much the opposite of "fresh". The strawberries were mushy and had rotten spots all over them. The cantaloupe, kiwi and honeydew were previously frozen and mushy to the point where it almost fell apart on my fork. I guess my biggest gripe is that they advertise this as "fresh" when it's obviously not. I might go back again, but would stay far away from anything with fruit, which is a shame because their pancakes with fruit sounded pretty awesome.
(2)
lizzie b.
I really enjoyed looking through the menu. That alone could have taken like 25 minutes. I think it's a little spastic --- you have your omelettes, your exotic omelettes, your omelette specials, your super crazy omelettes. How many items can you fit into one omelette? I got #4 -- which had avocado, spinach, portabella, gouda... I think there was mint in there, tomatoes.... The problem is that it was basically a mix of veggies with omelette on top. I'm more of a baked-in type of omelette girl. Homefries were okay. So, decent overall. But I'd check out some other JP gems before I went back.
(3)
Ariana G.
Huge menu selection... Three pages of different omelettes... Made for a lot of reading, but two of the pages were all with garlic and in my years of eating and cooking, eggs and garlic are just not a great mix! File my order in the I really know better box! Will go back to try one of the items from the three pages some of the pancakes.
(3)
Cassie H.
We went here for an end-of-the year breakfast with a group of us from work. I was anticipating such great breakfast greatness that I think I built it up for a let down. The place is pretty small, but our large group was seated in a private room when our organizer made a phone call for a reservation. Their six page breakfast menu blew me away. Their non-stop coffee is pretty decent, although I was wired for the rest of the day after two and a half cups. The table of us ordered all sorts of goodies from the menu, and the food came out hot although very staggered (again, with a large group, I can't say that it's not expected). I had the French Toast special: two slices of Texas French Toast (I'm from Texas, and I'm not sure what makes their french toast "Texan"), two eggs my way, home fries, and my choice of protein. The bacon I ordered was super thin and greasy. The home fries were cold and unflavorful. My eggs were cooked pretty perfectly. The french toast was hot, but lacked the sweetness I've come to expect with my favorite french toast joints. The price was pretty sweet with most dishes around $6/person. All in all, it was worth experiencing, but I'm not so sure I'll be back.
(3)
Kari C.
Sorella's has everything you could want in a Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch place. Cash only for this wonderfully brunchy goodness. Decadent omelets the size of your face make you more full then you ever thought you could be on eggs. They also have a ton of stuff for you veggies out there. They aren't very expensive, so if you want to fill yourself to the brim, this is the place to be. The service is friendly but a bit slow, which is why it's a 4 rating, but you will always recognize friendly faces. The more you go in, the better service seems to be
(4)
Clare D.
The first place I ate at in Jamaica Plain when I moved. Amazing omelette full of cheese and fresh veggies, very good size. They also do serve mimosas now, well made ones. The service was very entertaining-stereotypical diner types, quirky but nice. My friend got the French Toast, I don't recall which kind of bread but she could pick from 8 kinds. They only take cash and their hours are kind of erratic. It says open for dinner but I've never seen them open past 2:30pm. Great little place with very good food. I've been back twice since (now November of 2011), in the span of two days. The food continues to be solidly good. Tasty french toast, corned beef hash and savory crepes have filled my belly happily. The mimosas went up in price but are still yummy. The service is still a bit surly and sassy but not in an unpleasant way and they didn't mess up any of our orders or make us wait very long once we sat down. We did have a long wait for a table on Veterans day for brunch since many people had the day off but on Saturday morning we didn't have to wait at all.
(4)
christine c.
Dive-y little breakfast place. Fast, cheap, easy...Cash only. SO MUCH ON THE MENU IT IS INSANE. Best fresh-squeezed OJ around. I am a Sorella's believer. You can't do Sunday brunch in JP any better.
(4)
Mister Chub S.
The menu is SO LONG! with so many choices it's a bit overwhelming. A lot of the meals have 5+ fillings and while they're tasty, it's just too much. I'm happy that my omelette is filled with onions, peppers, goat cheese, dried cherries, avocado, carrots and diced broccoli but I can hardly distinguish all of the flavors because there are so many. It's a cute set-up- it was like I was in someone's house having brunch because that's pretty much what it was. It was laid-back and cozy in there. A little overpriced for what it was.
(3)
Brian D.
Sorella's is a fascinating, throw-back like restaurant. It's like eating in someone's dining room, in fact I'm pretty sure part of it was once a seperate apartment that got added onto a restaurant. The food is always interesting. They come up with huge numbers of interesting combinations out of a relatively small kitchen, and if you like creative pancakes or french toast it's excellent! Both the Gingerbread Pancakes and the Cornbread French Toast are terrific, and the Sorella's Mozzarella (french toast with spinach, marinara and Mozzarella) is a big hit with me and my girlfriend. The waitstaff is a mixture of good and just okay, but they're all flexible and will work with what you want. The atmosphere is very "hipster" with college and yuppie mixed in, but that describes that entire section of Jamaica Plain. There are drawbacks. The one thing they don't do particularly well is meat in/with your breakfast. Corned Beef Hash is interesting one visit, and dull the next. I've ordered side orders of sausage or bacon and they've been bad or badly cooked. Burned or undercooked. It's not like it's a vegetarian place, but if you like some protein with your hot breakfast carbs, you may be disappointed. Still, if nothing else the restaurant gets three stars for creativity and unpretentiousness.
(3)
Claire W.
Seriously? Wow. I loved the corn bread French toast and sausage I had. There's fifteen other things on the menu I wanted to try. Agh, this place is amazing. Baby, I'd cross state lines for your sweet corn bread goodness. The corn bread was soft and the perfect amount of sweetness, not breakfast cereal overload. The cranberries and whipped cream are a happy couple on top. I will note the strawberries that were mixed in on top were very weird. They had a fermented, sour tang and I had to scrape them off. Not sure why. I'd guess the berries were not sweet to being with (ya know when strawberries look awesome in the grocery store and then you eat them and they taste unripe and sharp?). The french toast was awesome without them. The sausage was a generous portion and had a lovely spiced greasy softness when I bit into it. A perfect breakfast sausage. Sorrella's, I will be back. Oh yes, I will.
(5)
Vincent M.
Really good oatmeal chocolate chip pancakes and a hell of a good bacon and mozzerella omelet. Servers are super friendly. One negative: their menu is huge!! Seriously over 100 items! Crazy crazy stuff. Took me a little while to gaze over the menu. Overall: Great place, fast food, good service.
(4)
Cyn C.
I went on a Tuesday morning, so I didn't have to wait in line at all. This diner is old school, with your momma's crockery (from the 80's... you know... the white plates with the brown etched trim from corel?). There are about a gazillion different types of omelets, of which I tried the portugeuse (portugeuse sausage, ricotta and feta cheese, mushrooms, and tomatoes, served with spicy salsa), which includes home fries and toast. The platter is bigger than your head, and looks like a 6 egg omelet. We ate at 11am, and I didn't feel a hunger pang until well past 7pm. So, for less than $10, you can basically eat for the entire day. Loss of one star for the thin and uncrisp bacon (the guy at the next table ordered a side of bacon. Being a bacon lover PLUS being naturally nosy, I made sure to take a peek when the order came along). However, I can't wait to try some of the special french toast and pancake creations here! ETA: loss of one star. After going back a few times, I needed to dock a star. 1) slow service. you'd think a busy place would have faster service to get quicker turnaround on the tables... slow was also bad, since I never got refills on water. 2) weak weak weak coffee. If I go out for brekkie, i need a good cup of strong joe too.
(3)
Jocelyn G.
I agree with Jenna C. Every time we've been to Sorella's, I've been sick afterwards. We went back a few times to see if it was just a fluke, and it happened each time again. Don't waste your time and money here.
(1)
Caitlin I.
As someone who eats breakfast food more often during dinner time, I have to say, going here for breakfast was a nice little treat. The boy and I decided to venture out for breakfast on a Saturday morning and this place is right around the corner, so bonus points for not having to trek my lazy sleepy ass any further early in the morning. The menu is well, ridiculous to say the least. They have everything and anything your little heart could desire and some things I'm pretty sure I would never want to consume in my life. But there are also mimosas for less than $4 which was enough to make me consider having a strictly liquid breakfast. Portions were way more than I could handle and after eggs, toast, potatoes, AND sausage, I was put in a mild food coma. The food is basic (at least what I had) and I could probably make it at home if I tried hard enough, but let's face it, you go out to eat to avoid having to cook for yourself. I'm a big fan of anytime I don't have to stand in front of a stove and make food. Service was a little slow for actually getting the food, but the boy got his refills of coffee whenever it was low which is apparently very important in early morning coffee world. It also was a little hard to find the waitress when it came to getting a box for leftovers and the check, but I suppose I'd rather wait for that than my food. Slight drawback is that they only take cash which isn't a huge issue as long as you remember that before you get there. As strange it was to be eating breakfast in the morning for me, it was still a good time. The company you have helps make this place what it is.
(3)
Seth B.
Closest breakfast place to my house and well worth it. Very extensive omelets list. In fact, I've never seen one bigger. Great portions and a good price. There is often a line Saturday and Sunday and they're only serving breakfast. Closes at 130. Friendly staff. Well worth a visit!
(4)
Rich F.
Last weekend the GF and I were here for breakfast and seated on either side of us were people who no longer lived in JP, but for nostalgia decided drag themselves back in order to have breakfast. This says a lot about a place. The woman to my right declared "the pancakes here are the best" and I would have to agree. One of the reviews here stated that the omelets seemed to be a random smorgasbord of veggies. I would agree with this statement. The omelet menu is not impressive. I would rather just build my own. The rest of the menu is a lot better. The French toast and Pancake Breakfasts are the gems. You can modify them with different types of options (chocolate chips, bananas, walnuts, carrot cake, and the list goes on). The coffee is decent and service is typically fast. Plus it is pretty cheap. The location is a bit out of the way for most people who don't live close, but if you are in the area I recommend stopping for brunch or breakfast.
(4)
Kim P.
Worth the wait (though we didn't wait that long on a Sunday at 11:45ish). Loved the omlette with asparagus, artichoke hearts and asiago. Have also loved the cornbread french toast and will return to try the Italian omlette. I saw two go past me and they looked amazing--a heart attack on a plate, yes, but still--amazing. Just remember: CASH ONLY!
(4)
Laura S.
More like 3.5 stars... The service sucked! The waitress took our glasses when we were done and never returned with refills and this was before we even received our meals. Since our waitress didn't bring the food to the table we had to eat our meals without beverages until our waitress finally got off the phone and off her butt! However I the food makes up for the horrid service. They have fresh squeezed orange juice that is so good I would just go there for that, but I don't have to since everything is good. I got the banana nut bread French toast. It was amazing, I can not even explain the joy I had with each bite. It was so filling! The person I was with had the chocolate chip banana pancakes with caramel and whipped cream topping (I think that's what it was called) he too loved his meal. We can not wait to go back, I want to try everything on the menu now!
(4)
Tom H.
This place is odd: you'll never find a broader or tastier brunch menu, but the staff can be surly, and whereas some of the items on the menu are insanely good (e.g., all the french toasts and pancakes), some things are land mines (e.g., many of the omelets) and should ne avoided. But the good things really are THAT GOOD to earn 4 stars.
(4)
David K.
The menu was extensive which made it hard to choose. The service was fun, and with personality. The food was solid and tasty. We are intrigued and want to go back to try something else.
(3)
D E.
Food was great! Had french toast with eggs, bacon and potatoes. Everything was reasonably priced-about $6 for the meal. You received a nice portion too! Would definetly go back!
(4)
Nadiva N.
I heard such great reviews about sorella's. But unfortunately I was highly disappointed with my experience. It appears dirty and untidy. The waitress was sweet though. The menu is indeed overwhelming with a never-ending list of French toasts etc. My pancake order was enormous, too much for one person, less than mediocre even with all the toppings. And then finally, to add insult to injury as I took a bite of my strawberry pancakes, I bit into a large piece of onion. That was enough to put me off completely. Definitely will not go back.
(1)
Ashley K.
I went here because my roommates said, hands-down, this place had the best omelettes ever. I moved here recently, so maybe you guys have a different definition of what an omelette should be, but I've always considered it to be a nice, fluffy, folded over bunch of eggs with some filling inside. An omelette at this restaurant is more like a ring of eggs with tons of fillings on the inside. I got the mexican omelette, and I am the biggest guac lover on this planet, but half the omelette was guacamole. Kind of like eating hot guacamole, by itself. I've never before been able to say something had way too much guacamole in it. Same issue with the salsa - way too much. For a dish that's supposed to be mostly eggs, I'm not sure what's going on there. But it wasn't terribly enjoyable. Also, the toast was just weak. Itty bitty, kind of squished slices that reminded me a lot of Wonderbread. I can forgive weak food - maybe I should have just stuck with eggs over easy or something - but the service sucked too. I went with a friend, and he got his pancakes first, no syrup, just butter. And then we waited around for a few minutes, until my omelette showed up. Only then did it occur to the waiter that my friend might need syrup. Also, oddly, one glass of orange juice showed up five minutes before the other, and neither of us were offered (or given) water. At the end, as they were closing, we had to ask for our check... and then it still took a good 5-10 minutes before we got it. You'd think they'd want to go home, right? And it's not like they were overwhelmingly busy. I think there were maybe three tables left. I can do bad service with good food... and I can even forgive bad food if there's really good service. But they screwed up both. Not worth coming back.
(1)
Charmie S.
Who likes to be disappointed? Not me. I ordered the French toast with eggs, bacon and home fries. French toast had way too much egg on it, so I went nuts with syrup to give it flavor. Eggs, I ordered over hard and they were. No salt though. Bacon, well, ya can't mess up bacon! Overall, not impressed. Perhaps there's more to be desired on their supersized And, no offense, but the spot gets no love for the dingy space. I think cleanliness, or at least the appearance of, matters a bit. But I could be wrong...Best things about this place are the menu pricing (french toast, eggs, bacon and home fries = $5.95) and fast service. For this kind of fare though, I'd give Victoria's Diner in Dottie a try!
(2)
Kate S.
I was pretty disappointed with this place. I had such high hopes. The food was okay, but it wasn't what I wanted. I really had my heart set on pumpkin pancakes, and was told they were out (it was about 12:30pm). I also wanted some hot apple cider, which was posted as being available, but was told I couldn't get any because "she hasn't made it yet." Huh? The staff was so gruff and brisk, I was pushed to order something else right away (which is really hard cause the menu is HUGE) and got the pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes, which they did have, which tasted pretty good, but had way too many nuts. My sausage was way undercooked. I hope I don't get trichinosis. I finished my OJ before our order was even taken, so I then asked for a glass of water. The waitress looked really pissed to have to bring it to me, and the glass was never refilled. Like I said, the food's mostly okay, but I don't think it's worth waiting so long in the cold, dealing with grouchy staff, and possibly acquiring a parasite.
(2)
S K.
Friendly service and comfortably casual (dingy?) enough to make me feel un-anxious bringing my young kids here. But, 2 stars off for putting peanut butter chips (i.e. totally synthetic "peanut" cookie chips) in the kids' peanut-butter banana pancakes. I ordered them so he'd get more nutrition than regular pancakes. Tired of American assumption that kids should eat candy for breakfast. That said, my spinach crepe was tasty. There was no line or crowd because it was so cold out, but I would not wait in line for this place.
(3)
Meggie M.
I am a huge Sunday Brunch fan. When I'm in Boston, I can't fathom to go anywhere but Sorrella's. Ranging from delightfully sweet to scorchingly hot; they have delicious offerings for all taste buds. Along with the food, the atmosphere is adorably quirky. I've visited Sorellas several times at different hours of the day, and never had to wait for a long period of time. For me, that adds 10 bonus points.
(4)
Don N.
Good prices, good food, friendly! Would come again.
(4)
Tim W.
Notoriously slow. Served unripe tough avocado. Not worth the wait. It was just eggs! They also do not accept credit cards and close at 1 pm. The food is just not good enough to be worth all the hassle.
(2)
Katie L.
SUCH a disappointment. Their food is bland at best and the eggs are the most disgusting eggs I've ever had, zero taste. Also they charged $1 for hot water with lemon... Really? Trust me, take your $$ elsewhere.
(1)
Steph D.
Do not, under any circumstances go here on a Saturday morning! Because frankly, I don't want to have to wait any longer. Reasons I love Sorellas: Non-hipster waiters. Diet Breaker Pancakes. Eggs, made over easy, for real. Diner coffee. Awesome refill abilities. Sexy polenta. Wobbly tables, (because what's a diner without wobbly tables?) Goat cheese overloads. Sweatpants dress code. Tattoos. No pressure "fresh squeezed" juice. Not even $20 for 2 people. No cooking.
(5)
Justin I.
This is one of our favorite breakfast places. Very cheap and an absolutely massive menu. They always have a crazy amount of specials going on too. The food is so good and the place is fun to walk or take a bus to because it's right down on Centre Street in JP. Great location and it never takes too long to be seated. The main dining room is pretty small but they have a couple of other spots where they can seat people when it starts getting busy. My favorites are the omelets, so many to choose from. I've had several different ones over the past couple of years and they never disappoint. Sorella's is as good as it gets for breakfast/casual brunch. You've got to check it out even if you're on the other side of town. It's worth it.
(5)
Brendan H.
Prices: reasonable Omelets: amazing Pancakes: also amazing. All other breakfast items: fantastic. Service: friendly and fast Coffee: Horrible. I give this place five stars anyway. It's that awesome.
(5)
Megan S.
I have a torrid relationship with Sorella. I sneak out early from my house on the weekend, get a table early and dig into the biggest, fullest, mixed-up omelets I've ever had in my whole life. Your imagination isn't ready for the things they combine in their omelets. And most of them include garlic and basil. Also be sure to enjoy the prize artwork on the walls. ; )
(5)
Rachel J.
I hate to have to give you only 3 stars. I really like your crepes with the weird ingredients like "mango marsh sauce", whatever that means! There aren't that many places that will make crepes with blueberries and macadamia nuts together. I also like the wide variety of omelet combinations. Also the pancakes are amazing- pumpkin pancakes with cream cheese and strawberries are very good. And the prices hover around $8, cheap in overpriced Boston. So it seems like I really really like this place, and I used to, until I went there on a Sunday morning and waited an hour for our food, and then we finally just gave up and left. Give us a realistic estimate of the wait, don't just seat us and have us sit there for forty-five minutes!!!!! Ugh.
(3)
Scott F.
Went back. I tried their Gingerbread Pancakes. They were great. The sour cream on the side was odd. As usual, I just couldn't finish everything. I either need a bigger stomach or smaller eyes.
(3)
Luyi H.
OMG. This place is amazing. I ordered the...omelet named after a person with artichoke hearts, half an avocado (nomnomnom), more asparagus than I can handle, with mushrooms plus moz? cheese, topped with alfalfa sprouts. Then, it came with cubed potato hash and toast!!! All for under $8!!!! Wow. Great deal. The size of my omelet was HUGE, it was bursting with ingredients. They don't skimp, even if you choose the omelet with all the expensive greens. I'm a girl who loooves food, but I couldn't finish it all. I'm in love with this place, but it's soo far from where I live. :( Helpful tips. Bring cash, they don't accept plastic. And be careful of the molding on the walls. It juts out at an awkward hit-your-head height.
(5)
Dave G.
I love love love this place. The pancakes are super, the service is great and the people who work there are nice and weird. It's a quirky family run restaurant with long weekend lines to get in, so don't be surprised if you have to wait on a Saturday: There is a reason for it. I find everything about it charming and exactly what I'd expect from a family run diner that's been around for 25 years. Ignore all the people here who are complaining about waiting, the service, atmosphere. They want a sanitized and pompous South End restaurant, not a neighborhood shop. I think the best part is the seven-hundred-ingredient-omelettes tacked to the walls. It's as if someone spun the wheel of food and made a list of the craziest combination. Go, you'll see.
(5)
Dana B.
My friends took me here because they had been raving about it for months and I'd been dying to go. I don't know if it was too hyped for me, but I really didn't enjoy myself there. You wait a long time to get seated. You wait a long time to order your food. You wait about an hour to get it. My friend ordered something and was told they didnt have it. So she ordered something else. They burned it and then asked her if she wanted the thing she origionally wanted because now they have it...shady... Waiting for a while is less fun here because the staff just yells at each other all the time. And not in a haha i'm joking kind of way, but in a make customers uncomfortable kind of way. The food I had was pretty good. I did get a lot of food, but that is commonplace with most breakfast places now. I wish I had been a little more adventurous and tried one of their deliciously sounding french toast or pancake combinations instead of getting an omelette. The one thing it does have going for it is the huge menu of items.
(3)
Katelyn M.
We waited 45 minutes in near-freezing weather for a table this morning. I wish that tables of 15 didn't exist for brunch on a Sunday morning... Anyway, the menu was extensive. I have never seen so many omelettes on one menu -- goat cheese, macademia nuts, garlic, basil, broccoli, tomatoes. You could get a gourmet plate (e.g., pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes) or something more close to home (think denver omelette or texas french toast). I made a mistake by getting a super-fancy omelette. Sorell'as is a much better place (in my opinion) to get specialty french toast (home-made banana walnut bread french toast) or pancakes than a super huge (the size of my head) omelette that lacks salt, butter, or both. I got my fill of veggies, but left wishing I had splurged on a carb-heavy, syrup-laden brunch. I will go back -- pineapple zuchinni walnut bread french toast just is too enticing not to (my DH disagrees...). But no more omelletes for me.
(3)
Heather L.
Dear lord this place is terrible! I've always seen lots of people outside of sorellas so one Saturday morning I decided to try it out. The food was really bad. It was maybe comparable to ihop. The set up was pretty bad too. I was kinda confused an uncomfortable the whole time...but My waitress was great and attentive though. Still I probably wouldn't go back.
(3)
Simona S.
Talk about a hangover. Exhausted and still very nauseous from late night debauchery I came to Sorella's today seeking the obvious: grease. Eggs. Possibly bacon. I could not decide between eggs or my usual: corned beef hash. I talked to the waitress and told her about my "situation" aka I had legitimately had nothing in my system anymore thanks to a solid night and morning praying to the porcelain god. She seemed to understand. Told me to go with eggs. I told her I couldn't choose an omelet. She asked me if there was anything I didn't like. I said blue cheese. I still have no idea what omelet I got. And maybe it's for the best. I was wishing it had meat in it until she brought a small little plate of corned beef hash for me. Which is why this place got four stars because service always counts. Always. And me and my cousins can be a rough bunch to deal with. But the menu actually stressed me out. It might make more sense to just do a "create-your-own" thing instead of stressing me out with dozens of options. Especially when I'm nauseous. Pancakes were awesome, we shared some blueberry almond, etc. concoction that I finished despite being rather full. The food here is definitely good, I just need to point out (like others have said before) that the omelets aren't exactly omelets. It's all of the amazing sounding ingredients cooked together with scrambled eggs on top. As long as you know what you're getting yourself into, you'll enjoy Sorella's.
(4)
Andy O.
I have to be honest. The only positive things about Sorella's is the selection and the value. I ordered the Eggs Special and my potatoes were tasteless and too soft, unlike normal home fries which are typically a bit crispy. I've had better. The eggs were a bit runnier than I asked for but the sausage was very good. They also do not take credit cards which can be a hassle and cause a bit of an issue with payment for my friend so I had to cover.
(3)
Jessica B.
Sorella's is a decent breakfast joint. There is usually only a five, maybe ten, minute wait. Although I've yet to choose a meal that I've liked. Usually my boyfriend and I switch plates because I don't like mine. This is because Sorella's often tries to mix sweet and savory flavors. This morning I had an omlette with artichoke hearts, asparagus, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, alfalfa sprouts, cheese, cranberries, and macademia nuts. I would have prefered it without the cranberries and macademia nuts. However, my boyfriend's pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes were divine!!
(3)
Nicole S.
This place is going to become a sad addiction. I went here with a friend based upon a suggestion from a coworker. She did not steer as wrong!!!! We went through yelp reviews before going there and had some ideas for what we would get but once we got there and saw the huge menu we got overwhelmed- but in a good way. We decided out first venture there would be eggs. The food here was fantastic!!! The place is a mish mosh of decorations, settings, tables, etc but I figure that just gives it character. Our second visit was even better than the first. I got the banana peanut butter french toast. Now when I read that I figure I would get some think bread french toast with sliced bananas on top with a scoop of peanut butter on top.... well i was wrong. I got banana bread with peanut butter chips mixed in. Holy hell that was fantastic. Banana and peanut butter in every bite, plus the texture was amazing! Genius!!!! *Cash only*
(5)
Beverly G.
Meh. I don't get all the love. It's all right; by no means great. On weekends, you can't get a table to save your life and the line stretches out the door, but I've never found it to be worth the wait. The omelettes definitely suffer from a "too many ingredients spoil the dish" problem. I like their andouille sausage, though.
(2)
Linda S.
Advice for the breakfast fan who wants to sample Sorella's: 1. Get there early. The lines on the weekends are not a joke after 10:00 a.m. It's a small place and the food is great. Deal. 2. Get there early. The service when it's not that busy is awesome; if you're there when there are fifty thousand other people there, you might have to wait a little bit. Deal. 3. Order the pancakes. For the love of god, do yourself a favor, and order. The pancakes. Even if you want protein. Even if you want eggs. Bring a friend and split an order of those damn pancakes. It's criminal how good they are. Further, Sorella's has some of the best French toast I've ever tried. (Sidenote: Do not mistake their banana bread or hearty foodie bread French toast with real French toast. There's a lot going on there - too much for me. Make sure you're ordering some normal French toast with accoutrements, not a big ole hunk of banana bread fried in butter. Unless you're into that, which you might be. For me, it was a little much.) Their omelettes are a little busy for my taste, as they all include fresh garlic and basil - which I feel kind of overrides the flavor of what's going on with all the other delicious and varied ingredients you can get. (You can get many.) Sorella's has one of the most expansive menus I've seen at such a tiny little neighborhood breakfast place - hell, it's one of the most expansive menus I've seen at any breakfast place anywhere. They have tons of exotic variations on their omelettes, pancakes, and French toast, and everything is really incredibly reasonably priced (truly - one of the last few places in the Northeast where you can actually get a great, filling breakfast for under ten bucks, tip included if you're careful). I've always found the service efficient and friendly, and accurate. There was this one time when my waitress came off a little surly, but I smiled at her and was polite and then she smiled at me and was really nice. And they always get my order right, and they always make sure I have coffee or juice or whatever I want. So yeah. Hearts for Sorella's.
(4)
Joshua B.
GREAT CHEAP EATS MADE WITH LOVE! At 12:15 yesterday we called to find out their hours and the lady who answered was very nice and told me they take their last order at 1:30. We got there at 12:30 and there were only a few people eating. I was ready for a ham and cheese omlet, which I admit seemed too boring with all they had to offer. My boyfriend had trouble picking, he settled with the JP Omlet which was great. Fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee.... it was great. The cute lady and the big guy who seem to run the place were accommodating and made us feel like we were regulars. First out drinks came up and about seven or eight minutes later our food showed up looking hot and yummy. In these few minutes the place filled up--including a party of six! Omlets were great, toast was crisp and buttery... home fries could use some lovin. We plan on going back, we were stuffed for hours. Dinor food without the greasy stomach ache. Next time I'm getting french toast!!! OPEN DAILY 7AM-1:30PM
(5)
Fernando R.
I actually worked at Sorellas from 2004-2008 on sundays through out High school. The wait is long I am not going to lie. I had troubles getting people out. You have to understand their is 3 rooms at Sorellas the first one is up to 4 people sometimes 5. Same thing with the second one. The last one is for big tables. And also their is only one grill for the entire restaurant. So it does take time to make food. The food is good and fresh. I know they have a guy that makes produce deliveries on a Sunday! My favorite food is the Texas and Cha-Cha Omelette.
(4)
Tyler C.
this place has the reputation....but the 2 times i've gone, the food has been....underwhelming. Maybe I haven't ordered the right thing. oatmeal pancakes w/ various fruit was pretty good flavorwise but not fluffy, and actually kind of heavy. Crepes were not that exciting. This place does have an impressive menu selection...but I think for JP brunch, Center Street Cafe still stands head and shoulders above all else for overall tastiness.
(2)
Julie S.
I love Sorella's! Cheap, huge variety, attentive service. I always go here when family visits from out of town. I've tried many categories from the menu, and I've never been disappointed. I tend to stay on the pancakes/waffles side, but I think my absolute favorite is the homemade polenta with guacamole, tofu and salsa. There are many vegetarian/vegan modifications available. The coffee is OK but not extraordinary. Fresh-squeezed orange juice is pricey but a nice treat. If you go with children, there is a playground about 2 blocks away (walking up Centre, away from Perkins) for them to burn off energy (and maybe you can burn off some of that breakfast :)
(5)
Jon L.
What a great amazing breakfast. I went in like a half hour before they opened and they where cool with it. I regulary don't get omlettes because they are something I can make at home, but after looking at all the amazing omlettes I went for one. It had basil, garlic, shallots, spinach, sundried tomatoes, salmon, boursin, fresh spinach etc. It was so fresh tasting. I would say the best omlette I have ever had. Extremely creative menu, well done!!
(5)
Adam E.
Here's the thing about Sorella's. You have to order the right thing, cuz they have a few dishes that are perfect and a bunch that totally blow. You also have to be patient and wait for a table, and I think everyone here has done that at one time or another and survived. Personally, I think waiting is half the fun of brunch. You can chit chat with your friends and anticipate the best meal ever. You probably won't get that at Sorella's, but if you play your cards right, you'll leave very full and satisfied. The potatoes suck, they're boring. The scrambled eggs are runny and that is so not my thing. I always get the pumpkin pancakes with cranberries and nuts, with cream cheese and strawberries on top. It's expensive, but I've tried a lot of other dishes and that's the only one that works for me. The coffee is like AA coffee, which I can appreciate even though I prefer a dark roast. Basically, it's a solid 3-star joint. If you never make the mistake of trying one of their many substandard dishes you might interpret it for 4 or 5 stars.
(3)
Vanessa C.
HOLY HORRIBLE BREAKFAST can I even put into words how disappointed I am in MYSELF for returning to this place for a second or third time. its around the corner & I didnt know any other places to go in JP for breakfast. but this was really just too much - LAZINESS DOES NOT PAY OFF, PEOPLE! where to begin.... the potatoes? undercooked and tasteless. the omelette? undercooked and tasteless. the side of veggies? I could count the number of leafy greens on ONE HAND for petes sake!!! OVERPRICED! the "varieties" of French toast? I think I got the pumpkin or banana who knows it all tastes identical but it is NOT French toast. DO NOT BE DECEIVED!!! it is like a slice of banana bread tossed onto a grill. SO DISGUSTING! even my overuse of caps cannot convey my disappointment in this place. moral of the story: good breakfast is worth the commute! I dont care if I have to drive back to somerville every sunday for the rest of my life, it sure beats the hell out of the crappy breakfasts I've had here. NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)
Haley C.
There are a lot of items on the menu. Service is fast and the staff is extremely friendly. There are only a few vegan options, but i had a tasty vegan meal for pretty cheap.
(4)
Rachel S.
Sorella's is really charming. The food is delicious- I took my brother there for his birthday on a tuesday morning and there was no wait whatsoever. From experience, I can say their Oatmeal Chocolate Chip pancakes, Cornbread French Toast with whipped cream and strawberries, and turkey sausage are awesome. I can't really believe how many people complain about this place. I've had one of the omelets and it was pretty great, too. If you're unsure of what to get and are afraid of all of the angry reviews, definitely go for one of their sweeter menu items- you won't be disappointed. update 6/21- I've now had many of the omelets & crepes and they've all been delicious. The homemade chicken salad has nuts & apples and was mighty tasty. Excellent turkey sausage and hash, too!
(5)
Sean J.
Can you please fix the grammatical and spelling errors on your signage that's all over the place. and yes, i don't want sprouts, bacon, dates, and goat cheese on my western tropical omelet... Someone needs to do some editing.
(4)
Meghan M.
There was no wait to sit, but it took a while to get serviced and for our food to be served. BUT the breakfast burrito was probably the best I've ever had. No credit cards, kind of annoying, but an ATM nearby.
(4)
Shannon C.
My brunch confidante and I gave Sorella's 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for the imaginative mind that keeps coming up with new ways to combine some basic breakfast ingredients. I ordered pumpkin pancakes with strawberries and cream cheese. Sorella's menu makes you think, "huh. who thought of that?" Which means you may spend several minutes looking over the menu. Don't worry, the staff seems to be prepared for that! Too bad the coffee tastes like dirty water and the tables are smushed (word? if so, sp?) so close together a guy next to us almost knocked my friend's plate off the table. Still, a good breakfast option in JP.
(4)
Hans M.
Ok, I cannot heap enough praise on how great this diner is. First of all, the menu is humongous. I have never seen so many different varieties of omelets and pancakes. The decor is kind of downhome neighborhood, with handwritten menu items on placards all over the place. I was a little worried they didn't have menus and I'd have to wander around the place just to read all the selections. I had a Mexican omelet and it was quite tasty full of peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, jalapenos, guacamole and a generous portion of salsa on top. I love to eat a huge breakfast and often will get eggs, bacon toast, home-fries and a pancake on the side. Needless to say the omelet here was so big I could hardly even finish it and was glad I didn't order that pancake even though my neighbor's did look great. What can be better than a combination of eggs and tex-mex. I found the wait staff/owners to be really friendly and curious about the ebook reader that at first was glued to my face - I was eating by myself, I usually don't think to talk with others while I'm eating. However, this was and exception as the clientele was a very diverse mixture of some of the friendliest people I've ever met in the Boston area. I ended up staying around talking almost two hours with a mother and her 10 year old daughter sitting next to me - who had a menu item named after her - the aforementioned pancakes. How cool is that?!? Something about this restaurant and JP as a whole just has a really cool vibe. I look forward to gorging myself on another omelet here soon.
(5)
Joe S.
My wife and I are currently relocating to JP and a friend of mine who lives in the area stopped by to check out the new place. He had suggested that we go to Sorella's for some lunch. Its right around the corner. First impression, this is no-frills dining. It's a small, family owned restaurant that really packs them in. We went after 12, so we didn't have to wait for a table. The menu is huge. Its filled with all different types of omlettes. I had the "volcano" which had spinach, mushrooms, avocado, and bleu cheese. I was under the impression the bleu cheese would be of the crumbled variety, but come to find out, they just poured some bleu cheese dressing in the omlette. Maybe it was the texture, but it really didn't do it for me. Given the size of the menu, I'm sure I'll eventually find some dishes that I'll enjoy. So all is not lost. The iced coffee was delicious as well.
(3)
Diana L.
Some bastard told me this place was woman-owned and like the walking San Francisco hippie stereotype that I am, I mindlessly followed my social consciousness into Sorella's. Well, you can take away my karma points, because I'm just gonna come out with it: EVERYTHING WE ATE HERE WAS BAD. I don't know how they managed to make everything taste bad, but they did it. Congrats.
(1)
Theresa A.
The food here is good, love the waffles, huge menu and fresh squeezed OJ. The service needs some work
(3)
Megan L.
I recently went to Sorella's when I didn't feel like standing in the rain at Centre Street Cafe. Sorella's suprisingly had no wait, but oddly enough, it took FOREVER to get our food. I ordered a breakfast burrito that consisted of scrambled eggs, avocado, and cilantro. My friend ordered scrambled eggs and toast. I think we waited 30 minutes to be served. It was crazy. I could have hopped back there and whipped up scrambled eggs in 3 minutes. The food tasted okay, but the service left much to be desired. I might go back, but only if there is no wait. No way would I wait twice for their breakfast. One positive thing I can muster...Sorella's is really cheap. We ate for like $9 plus tip.
(2)
R. B.
Pancakes can be good.... the eggs, potatoes etc are on par with your basic all-night diner. BUT, the coffee is the absolute worst I've ever been served in a cafe. Tasted like it was recycled grounds (you know, when you run out of grounds and try to put more water through in hopes of getting real coffee to come out again, and it never works). Bleh. I did have a good egg sandwich here once though. I'd recommend that.
(2)
Bernadette S.
Five stars for the sheer variety of omelettes and pancakes. We all have our fave. Mine is the pumpkin cranberry walnut with strawberries and cream cheese on top which is out of this world delicious. I feel gross afterwards from the sheer sweetness, so now I order a basic western omelette with a side of ONE pumpkin cranberry walnut pancake. Sure, it's a lot of food, but we share it. Their home fries have gotten better over the years, but they should be ordered well done and then generously sprinkled with pepper. Service is gruff and efficient, which is all I need in the morning anyway.
(5)
Eve G.
Absolutely terrible. We get in there, and then the head cook is yelling at his staff because he has nothing better to do, and of course, one of the staff quits and walks out. Now, we've ordered our meal and we sit there for 45 minutes before I ask the waitress, who seems to be completely OUT OF IT when our meal is coming. Another 15 minutes later it comes. I get the oatmeal and chocolate chip pancakes which taste like bacon and have probably one oat in the whole batch. I ask this other man who seems to be working for Sorella's if I could get a refill on my coffee, since it had been 30 minutes before anyone has stopped to ask if I want anymore. He snaps at me saying, "someone just walked out." Then, he proceeds to fill it with a jarring look on his face. I've gone to Sorella's numerous times before this, and each time, I tell myself I'm never going back. This time, I may actually consider never going back. It honestly looks like the actual owner gave up on the place ten years ago. If the place gained a little more spirit in staff, food and service, it might do it some good.
(1)
Ellen C.
Go! Go Go Go! The pancakes were delicious. I don't even care that they were out of my first two choices (be warned), because the ones I ended up getting were so good. I'd never heard of this place before a friend invited me to go. I also seem to remember that it was reasonably priced, easy to get to, and had an unfortunately long wait that was COMPLETELY worth it. It was a little hard to communicate with the waitstaff. Seriously though, the food completely makes up for absolutely anything else. Go tomorrow morning if you can.
(5)
Jenna C.
I really want to like Sorella's. I want to like it so much that I give it 5 stars and say I'll go there every weekend because it's conveniently located across the street from my apartment. But I can't because I actually HATE Sorella's :( The few times I've been there I've never been able to even attempt to finish my meal and left feeling sick. But I kept going back hoping this would be a fluke. After 3 visits I realize this is no fluke... it's just awful. I don't care how big the menu is. Have they even heard of quality over quantity? What's the point of making tons of shitty food? It's beyond me. Unfortunately the food isn't even the worst part. The customer service is atrocious. Seriously, the waitresses that I've had could not have a worse attitude problem and I am ALWAYS nice. Especially when I'm not even fully awake yet. All my visits have been well after the morning rush so I don't understand why I have to wait 10 minutes for some juice when I'm watching them stand there and do nothing. Grrrrr!
(1)
Yianni G.
Sorella has some of the best pancakes in the country according to this article which they flaunt on their front window flyertalk.com/forum/show… I waited fro 30 minutes during the Sunday snow storm to check out what the fuzz was all about and all I have to say is...Holy Pancakes! I got this thing called the Ben's Thunder- 4 banana pancakes (home made batter), with raspberries, strawberries, tons of whip cream and coconut flakes. It was life changing. Plus I made a new friend while waiting for a table. Her name is Meg and we ate together. My next pancake experience will probably be the ginger strawberry thing every keeps talking about. They should really expand.
(5)
K T.
This place is now my favorite brunch spot in Boston. Love it. Absolutely crazy menu, ridiculously good food, tons of vegetarian options, pretty good coffee, a good value for what you get. The service wasn't mindblowing, but the people I talked to were nice and they're definitely not stingy with the coffee refills. It takes a while to get your food, but do you really have anything better to do on a Sunday morning?
(5)
Mary L.
I've been visiting Sorellas for years now, and can't speak more highly of the food. The carrot walnut pancakes are my favorite: real shreds of carrot in the pancake! The staff have a lot of character, the food is good, and the atmosphere is very "Boston." Highly recommended. Be prepared though: they are cash only.
(5)
H.E. A.
Perfect place for family brunch and local's favorite. Our kids and their friends love the menu and atmosphere. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is the looking wait and slow and curt service because of that (especially after Sunday service, it gets packed). During the week, experience might be different. Highly recommended if you're looming for comfort food.
(4)
BJ C.
My favorite place for breakfast. That is all.
(4)
Tiff S.
Pleasantly surprised by the menu. Food was yummy, big portions. Good price.
(5)
Casey S.
people ask me where they should go for breakfast in Boston and this place is my response.
(5)
Boston G.
I've been to Sorella's twice. The first time, the experience was quite good - the food is a very interesting mix of sweet and savory (for instance, pumpkin pancakes, breakfast burritos, sweet and salty crepes) - a very full and fascinating menu. The problem with this restaurant is the interminable wait you have to go through to actually be served. You will wait 25 minutes just to get in, and then it's anybody's guess when you'll actually get your food (usuallly another 25-30 minutes.) I don't know about you, but when I'm hungry for breakfast, I'm HUNGRY. I was just there this past Sunday with a friend, and after waiting about 45 minutes, still holding our menus, with coffee but no water (which we'd asked for) we saw the group of folks who'd come in after us having their orders taken before us... ? I know, it can be a waitress's nightmare to have to keep track of EVERYONE in the restaurant, but clearly we'd been there first. And no matter how good the food, waiting over 45 minutes JUST TO ORDER is not worth it. Add the facts that there is no air conditioning, they only accept cash, they are always understaffed and the tables are cramped = not worth the time. It's sad to say, because the food is good, but you can find better places.
(1)
Crystal C.
The last year I lived in Boston, my boyfriend at the time lived a few blocks from Sorella's, and it quickly became THE destination for weekend brunch. We would stand out in the cold, rain, snow, whatever as long as we had to in order to get a table. And every time it was worth the wait. Both the upstairs and downstairs dining areas are a bit cramped, so you have to be able to tollerate the close quarters. Service was always great. But the food. It's all about the food. They had so many options that it was almost overwhelming and I know I never got to try everything they offered. Whether you are a fan of egg based breakfast dishes or just want some pancakes or french toast, you will find something inventive and delicious.
(5)
Janine A.
I finally got to Sorella's. The menu is a little over whelming, every omelet and pancake listed on the menu seems to have 5 or more ingredients. I'd come back but order again without so many ingredients. It takes away from the food there are just too many ingredients. Portions are huge and the fresh squeezed OJ is great. My reason for 3 star is too many ingredients and options make options seem not well thought out. Our food was ok, not executed that well. Our lobster burrito had different ingredients in the beginning, middle , and end of the burrito.
(3)
Natasha N.
Cheap, huge selection, and amazing pancakes, waffles, fresh juices and plenty of good vegetarian offerings. However I'm more of a savory breakfast kind of girl. They never scimp of fresh fruits or veggies but I would recommend ordering strategically when it comes to their kitchen sink approach to omelet making. i.e. loaded omelets minus a few toppings- marinara on the side, w/o RAW garlic, etc for an optimal experience. The service can be on the slow side, definitely a mixed bag when it comes to service , and the decor, well they could use ALOT of help. Despite it's imperfections its a solid neighborhood establishment.
(2)
Brian D.
I was really pissed off when my woman dragged me to Sorellas on aSaturday morning. I knew from driving by this place a million times that it was a hotbed of crunch eyed, late morning rising, slow eating, mofo's. I'm kind of a 'in and out' breakfast guy, give me eggs or a muffin or a god damn burger - i don't care just do it quick, with coffee and without enough grease to send me immediately into gastric convulsions. So...after waiting for 10 minutes outside (the joint looks small from the outside but has a sneaky hidden side seating area) - we were seated by the scary hostess, she didn't scare me too much I was actually happy that she wasn't a bubbly morning scenester. Coffee was brought STAT and i dived into the really overwhelming menu. that is probably going to be my only complaint - too much to chose from. seriously, what the hell - 3 different polenta options, at least 10 different pancake options, enough omelette options to make the french weep and seriously, not overpriced at all. i really wanted just eggs but after breaking down into tears after seeing polenta coming out with jalapenos i had to succumb and get all yuppie-hippie for breakfast. The food was really fresh, well prepared and served in a heaping mound that filled me for hours. So, in JP - need food, don't mind sleepy annoying breakfast banter - GO to Soreallas.
(4)
Vivian H.
I went there this morning, and it was wonderful. Its a cute, cozy place and the prices are great. If you arrive before 9AM, I think they have early bird specials. I got the French toast deal, lots of food and very fast. I will definitely go back to try their different pancakes, which I hear is their specialty.
(4)
Mark S.
Why can't you guys just chop the veggies in your "fancy omellettes?" Stick with the normal stuff and you'll be ok.
(2)
Angelina C.
I love your omelets, french toast, home fries, coffee, pancakes, etc. like I love my mom. I love your prices. I love how you're five minutes from my house.
(4)
D M.
I really like this place for a dive-y poor customer service experience, but the last time I went was with Jesse and Robert, and while Robert enjoyed his breakfast, Jesse was kind of appaulled. And once I thought about it, I can see why.......the customer service is always pretty crap-tastic, and while the food is good and filled with veggies, it's always a little dirty and has a kinda crusty feel to it. I get that. But the food is cheap and it's very much a little local place that people will always flock to, whether it's good service or not. It's hard to believe I am saying this, but it's a little to hippy casual for me. I like my diners cleaner and my waitresses to have french twists and big hair if they are more nasty. Is that weird? Oh, heads up......no credit cards are accepted here.
(3)
AB H.
Long wait, surly service, OK food. This was my second time to Sorella's. I think my basic complaint is that the chunks of veggies in the omelettes are too big and under cooked. The ginger french bread and oatmeal, walnut, carrot pancakes were a little bland. Even the gorgonzola sauce on top of my omelette was bland. The freshly squeezed oj was good. Omelettes come with home fries and toast - meh, not that good.
(2)
Lila S.
Holy Hell....., why haven't I been here sooner?! My hubbs took me here for the first time yesterday and I could barely take the grin off my face. SOOO many choices of fruit and nuts to put in your waffles,pancakes or french toast. Folks, trust me on this one even you are a die hard savory breakfast eater, you will melt when your toungue hits the taste of banana peanut butter french toast with strawberries and whipped cream!! Its seriously a mouthgasm. Not to mention that all the French Toast is on Texas toast STANDARD!! 3 Slices were way too much but I tried my best. They don't mess around with ingredients here, some combinations that struck me were: Blueberry Walnut Maple pancakes, oatmeal peach waffles,Gingerbread French Toast and CORN BREAD FRENCH TOAST mmmmm.. My hubbs needs Eggs benedict to be happy in life but didn' t see it on the menu. You can still ask for it, but it will come as poached eggs on your choice of bread and hollindaise ( or whatever) sauce. He got it with corned beef hash and said it was perfect altogether. Now, Its worth mentioning.... burritros.... oh....my...god ... people They make a mean omlette at this place( with crazier ingredients than I could even mention) but the burritos can be breakfast or lunch style and ARE SOOO GOOD. Trust me I likes me a goood burrito. The only reason they don't get 4 stars, service was nice but sllloooww. Oh yah and weirdo couples like to frequent this place and stare at everything you eat! That said go there and love it up
(4)
Bryan S.
My friends raved about this place for so long. I was very excited to try it out. What a let down. They were out of half of the menu but the worst part was that the place is filthy! I cannot tolerate eating under those conditions and I won't return. I'm going to give it 2 stars because most of my friends still love to go there... maybe it's just me?
(2)
Sachin P.
Recently had their brunch and overall had a good, not great, experience. The location is a bit weird with 2-3 different dining rooms but it doesn't feel too odd once you are seated. The main plus of this location is the incredible selection of menu choices. For brunch the menu was loaded with choices. I am a vegetarian and was eating with a group of non-vegetarians and there was no shortage of choices to go around. Service was good and the waitstaff was very pleasant. Last, but not least, the food...this was good and opinions varied across the table. I was very happy but my wife was underwhelmed.
(4)
Hanna B.
they do not accept credit cards: annoying. they have all kinds of crazy shit. lots of vegetarian stuff (yay!) service in my experience has been mostly shitty, but the food is generally really good and it's definitely "an experience." go there.
(4)
Greg M.
Decent food, decent price, decent service. All I have to add is to stay away from the omlettes with too many ingredients. There isn't nearly enough egg to contain all of it. I know that sounds like a compliment, but it's not. I ordered an omlette with asparagus, garlic, avocado, and cheese (there may have been something else as well). Everything was just in giant chunks. There was just a half of avocado sitting in there, next to a bunch of whole spears of asparagus and a glob of melted cheese. Everything should have been chopped and dispersed evenly. And it wasn't even near propotionate to the amount of egg. This was more like a farmer's market.
(3)
Mel F.
I have been to this place 2 times too many. I live very close by and was curious about the line. The first time I went, there was no line, however the service was awful! We ordered coffee, the waiter brings it...w/out sugar, or a spoon, or milk. When we asked for those things, it was as if we were asking for a favor. The breakfast wasn't so good after all, so we were still wondering about the line. We concluded that perhaps we should have ordered an omelet, since they have a huge omelet menu... Take 2: Another day, and we ordered omelets. The service was awful, the waitress was mean and SICK (runny nose, cough and cleaning it with her hands). Oh, and the omelets? Raw! I still don't get why people do this line to be treated so badly and pay for it, when you can go a few steps further and have a wonderful breakfast with the best coffee in JP at Oriental de Cuba. Needless to say, I don't go to places where people make big lines to get in anymore!
(1)
Derek B.
Zillah told me about the long lines of hungry people waiting for a seat and some sustenance here on the weekend, but she continued to describe it as "greasy spoon." A huge omelette, stuffed to bursting with arugala, black beans, avocado, fresh chevre, shiitake mushrooms, basil, and I-don't-even-remember-what-else; is that "greasy spoon"? True, the place had a bit of the small-town gritty cafe look-and-feel, but in its food it transcended the stereotype. Delicious and fun, and I will definitely go back when I'm in Boston.
(4)
Karen B.
A great greasy spoon for a chilly fall or winter morning breakast. They have omelet specials scribbled all over the walls, the menus carry a sheen of grease, and your plates and silverware will never match. Truly eclectic. You can get any combination of vegetables/cheese/meat in an omelet. Haven't tried the pancakes. The hash rocks, but gives nasty indigestion. Coffee is so-so. It's darn cheap though. A great meal to wake up over. The server may give you the evil eye, but you can't take it personally. They do it to everyone.
(4)
Tony B.
Rachel J. My sentiments exactly. We waited no less than 45 minutes without even a sideways glance after placing our order. Our fresh squeezed OJ never even left the tree. The grilled blueberry muffin requested was rare upon arrival. However, the French toast (corn bread and texas style) were absolutely to die for. We had ours topped with cranberry/strawberry and apple/walnut respectfully. Great food, less than stellar service.
(3)
Lindsay D.
Went here the other day for brunch with a large party and while it's not convenient for those who have a car and never carry cash it's still well worth it. The atmosphere was warm and cozy on a rainy Sunday morning (it was a-ok that none of us had showered after our night out just yet), the menu was enormous, and the portions were massive and delicious. My Sorella's Mozzarella (texas toast, fried egg, fresh spinach, and mozzarella with marinara sauce) was amazing... as was the Almond Blue Nana pancake that I ordered on the side. the coffee was decent - certainly nothing to write home about but also nothing to stick my nose up at either. The rest of the Caffeine Addicts felt the same, drinking about 3 cups each (our standard bottomless coffee at breakfast is usually 4-6 cups). Everyone else raved about the food as well and we all left fat and happy, full of pancake and omelet goodness. Sorella's, you officially have a customer for life.
(4)
aa d.
For what Sorella's is - namely, a diner/truck-stop style greasy spoon with something of a JP crunchy twist - it comes through just fine. The food isn't going to stack up well against a swanky brunch at Aquitaine or Spire or the Gilded Truffle, but that isn't what you want this morning, now is it. You're hungover, maybe still a little drunk, you're in the dirty jeans you fell asleep wearing, you haven't showered and you need eggs, cheese & potatoes. With sausage. And a pancake. Fair enough - but seaweed?. Sure, why not. Your omelet is going to be cooked on a flat top grill that probably hasn't really been cleaned in 10 years, it will have holes in it and maybe a few brown spots here and there. A bewilderingly random assortment of ingredients will be stuffed into it haphazardly, without much regard for precise cooking times or appearance. And the hashbrowns will be a mixed bag. But remember, this is what you want. That, and a half pound of butter slathered onto your unevenly browned toast. More space would be nice, but come on, this is the city, right? You'd have to pay for that. Didn't get the eggs with your pancake special? Par for the course - speak up and have it fixed, that's a lot of plates to remember, ok? A recent early AM visit saw the front dining room filled with DPW workers and Police officers - people who actually work for a living know where to eat. Besides, where else are you going to go? If you want a relaxing Sunday brunch, go somewhere else. If you need to dilute the residual alcohol in your system with pork fat, cheese & eggs (and the aforementioned seaweed) on a Tuesday morning - Sorella's will do just fine.
(3)
Leigh K.
This is the brunch place I bring every guest from out of town to. There are a crazy, slightly over the top, amount of choices of food, from at least 25-30 different omelettes exploding with fillings to 10-15 different pancake or french toast options. The coffee is as close to diner coffee that you can get in the JP area, which I just adore. The wait used to be out of control but is now much better due to their new expansion. The waitstaff can be not-so-warm, but they do their job and you very rarely have an empty glass of water or coffee. The added bonus? Sorellas is has been a sponsor of a girls softball team in JP for at least 4 years now; I love that community connection. A must eat if you are in the JP area!
(4)
Art S.
Clearly this is one of those places that, if you don't like weird shit in your pancakes and can't handle the "I'll get to you when I get to you" attitude, you will be screaming to yourself "ohmygodthisplacesuckswhatthehellareyoupeopletalkiÂngabout!" For the rest of us, we know that this is not TGI Friday's. I don't give a crap if my server pretends to be happy to see me or not, so long as she brings me my grease. I'd rather have really good food served with a snarl than a bunch of crap on a plate served with a smile. Until someone else can serve me pistachio pancakes, AND be happy about it, I'll continue to think Sorella's is awesome.
(4)
Abby L.
OK, I'd read the reviews, but I still had to go. It's a great looking place. It's a hole in the wall, great light, very colorful. I love the space. The menu was great, too. So many options and very unique combinations of things. I know that sounds like the beginning of a great review, but by the time I left, I knew I wouldn't be back any time soon. My fellow diners liked the random sheets of paper with menu items that were pinned up all over the walls, but I found it a little overwhelming. The choices on the menu are extensive enough already. The waitress was an older woman who tended to show no expression, so I never knew if she was hearing what we wanted or not because she didn't respond or nod or anything. She mumbled, too, so I wasn't always sure what she was asking. She seemed pretty unhappy to be there. Together, me and my three fellow diners ordered the Mexican Polenta, the Spanish Omelette, the Gingerbread Pancakes, and the Pumpkin Pancakes with Cranberry and Walnuts. My pumpkin pancakes were completely undercooked, so I ate around the edges of each pancake. There were WAY too many cranberries in the thing. Each bite had 4 or 5 little ones inside. I didn't order cranberry pancakes, did I? I didn't spot any walnuts. They were topped with cream cheese (a big hunk) and strawberries. Under ripe and overly soaked strawberries. YUCK! Between that and the doughy middle, I ate almost none of my breakfast, and that is VERY unlike me. My friend who ordered the Gingerbread pancakes loved them. I didn't, so I guess that was a matter of taste. The Mexican Polenta was weird. It had raw jalapeno's, so when you bit in, the heat of the dish seemed to somehow sit on top of the actual flavor. Not well integrated at all. Apparently the Spanish Omelette was "pretty good". I do know that the home fries that came with it were good, so that's something. I just feel like they need to shorten the menu and work on improving the recipes that they have. The start of a great breakfast place is there, but the execution is SORELY lacking.
(2)
Julie A.
way too over priced. They claim to have "gourmet" breakfast. All I have to say is c'mon, really?! It's not. The menu looks like it, and looks like it would all taste really good. it's not, and they are always out of 1/2 of the stuff they claim to offer. There is a wait to get in because it's small and really cramped and the wait staff and cooks take forever, not because it's good. It's also dirty.
(2)
wendy g.
Every breakfast combination available all day. I love this restaurant. I have sooo much fun every time we go. We always bring our out of town friends to show them that breakfast with Wendy (that's me) is aways "off the hook"-- you'll love the food at Sorella's and if you are a true foody- that's all that matters.
(5)
robert o.
A good standard breakfast joint... We went on Saturday early, no wait. I had the french toast special - 2 eggs home fries and coffee. Everything was excellent. My partner had hash and egg, which he truly enjoyed.
(4)
Ann F.
The gigantic and inventive menu at Sorella's rocks!! The quality of food prep is sometimes a mixed bag - occasionally the omlettes are a bit undercooked, for example - but sometimes phenomenal. I'm always willing to take a chance on Sorella's... the portions are huge, and though the lines are long, this is a classic JP experience not to be missed.
(4)
Katrina F.
There is nowhere else in the world where I can find cranberry walnut pumpkin french toast with sour cream topping, gingerbread french toast, or raspberry banana pancakes. I could eat breakfast there every day. The service is prompt, although I don't know if I recommend the coffee. Sorella's was featured on the food channel for their variety of french toasts (freshly baked and turned into toast) and they are my favorite restaurant in all of Boston. My husband really enjoys the omelettes as well. They come chock-full of tasty ingredients.
(5)
Lee Q.
What is wrong with you all?! Sorella's is HANDS DOWN the worst place I've ever been to. Went with two friends one morning because its a short walk from where e stayed. One friend, who was playing host to us, wanted us, but we went anyway thinking he was exaggerating. NOPE! Food was bland and just not good. Our waiter was terribly disinterested and rather unpleasant. My friend ordered a side of turkey sausage with her food. Shorty after it arrived, the waiter returned and said, "I'm sorry but two of those sausages were for another customer, I have to take those back." Um, EXCUSE ME? You're really going take food that was already being eaten and give it to another guest? To add insult to injury, as he walked away from us, he flashed us his ass from the giant hole in his back pocket. I made sure to tip well because when restaurants are like that, it means management treats their workers like shit. Hopefully their manager didn't pocket those tips either.
(1)
J K.
There are many things that rule about Sorella's: 1. The amazing woman on the first floor that is just so awesome. 2. The banana chocolate chip pancakes. 3. The sausage and egg sandwich on an everything bagel OH GOD YES 4. THE MAPS ON EACH TABLE. I like the juxtaposition of Chicago as a country next to Argentina. 5. The coffee that always seems to incite a panic attack after I have more than one cup. 6. How quickly the food arrives! 7. All of the okcupid morning after breakfast dates. AWESOME. Cash only! Bring cash dollars.
(4)
Philip T.
We really liked this place. Great breakfast good friendly service. You could spend a month just trying out the omeletes!
(5)
Raya M.
I'm gonna give this place negative 100 if I could. I live up the street and regularly walked by, so my bf and I decided to give it a try. Service was mediocre, but we didn't expect too much from a busy bfast place. But, we were super disappointed when out food arrived in dishes that looked link were never washed from the previous use. My Romeos omelette was gross to say the least. The avocado was straight up rotting and the rest of the ingredients were mashed together and not seasoned at all. I has about 2 bites and had to stop cause it felt like I mate get good poisoning. My bf got one of the bfast burritos. He ordered the one with chicken, but got beef instead. The beef tasted like dog food, his words, not mine. No one asked us how our food was? So we didn't bother share it. But I can honestly say that this is the worst place I've been to in my life. Don't go there, not worth your money!!!
(1)
Clare M.
We love this place! I can't believe that it doesn't have 5 stars! The oatmeal pancakes (or oatmeal chocolate chips if your chocalately inclined) are absolutely delish, the service is friendly, the menu offers endless options (or so it seems) and its waaaay better value than that other place further down center st...and usually, if you hit it just right, you don't have to wait for a table like you do at that other place. Every time we have guests, this is where we take them. Yummy, homey, and a great place to start your weekend...or any day of the week actually.
(5)
Jen B.
I have been coming here, on and off, for more than 20 years. I am vegetarian and it is super easy to eat here. The eggs are just right, the potatoes are not over cooked over oiled or over spiced- delicious! My personal favorite: pumpkin,walnut and cranberry pancakes- can't beat them. Fresh squeezed OJ is great. Almost any eater can have a delicious breakfast at a reasonable price in a casual, quaint environment with friendly staff.
(5)
Terra N.
It's totally small downstairs and the tables are pretty close together. I like cozy restaurants because it's kinda like we're having a fun gathering with strangers and wanting to steal their food cause it looks so yummy. The decor is questionable and kinda tacky in my opinion, but at the same time very unique and shows the character of the owners. I really hate fake flowers in vases; I'd rather have fresh flowers or clutter-free. I ended up enjoying the Crepe del la Susanna? Which 5 minutes later, they realized they did not have goat cheese which made me sad, but I'm not a fussy twat like some people and just substituted feta. Also got a side of tamarind, garlic, spinach tempeh which was okay. I was expecting more flavor. The refills on coffee were pretty much every five minutes which is nice because the cute coffee cups were clearly being reused which I love. As a server, I was sad that they staggered on bringing out the meals (not proper restaurant etiquette) but it's understandable because breakfast food can cool fast, so you want it out right away. I got my meal last and it was okay. The feta cheese was in huge chunks but I loved the avocado, tomato, red peppers, spinach, and yummy walnut sauce that it came with. There was a hint of either paprika or mystery spice which added a nice smokey flavor. The homefries it came with was meh. Had a bite of other people's pancakes, and they were good. Actually I kind of have an upset tummy right now. TMI? :( I almost forgot to mention that they gave us complimentary fruit plate which was really nice of them, and we just ordered a couple of minutes earlier than that. Might come back again, but there are other places that are much closer to where I live and frequent that I'd rather go to. I'm not being fair because I ultimately wanted to go to Paris Creperie in Coolidge Corner but caved to majority. Everyone else pretty much cleaned their plate which is good, but now I feel like a picky eater. The server was really nice and outgoing and he was most definitely patient with us who were new to the 9 page menu and specials.
(3)
L. S.
I've been here a few times, and while it's not the best brunch place in Boston, I haven't found a better cheap place in Jamaica Plain. I've always been happy with their pancakes, and my friends are a big fan of their french toast and the gingerbread pancakes. The home fries are inconsistent, and I can't comment on their eggs, since I really don't like breakfast eggs. It is rather cramped, and is usually very busy during brunch hours, but it's not intolerable. The service varies from excellent to mediocre, depending on the server and the day. If you have a hankering for pancakes and don't want to shell out $15 for brunch at some fancy place, Sorella's is an excellent choice! Just remember to bring cash, as they don't accept credit cards.
(4)
Chris M.
Definitely feels like an average diner - no mistaking that. What's above average is the menu. They're a diner that cares about serving you something different, something better than your sausage and eggs or whatever. Not sure the quality of each of their ingredients but it seems like they know what they're doing. They are also more than happy to accommodate vegans such as myself with tofu and knowing to leave out delicious things like cheese. Their breakfast burritos are huge and their hot sauce is hot. (but not too hot) Their OJ is the perfect thing to suck down in the morning. Their coffee was burnt tasting and not too fresh, but I let it slide because it's a diner and I hadn't gotten much sleep that night. I would come back. It would take me quite a few visits to try the whole menu...
(4)
Howe L.
I dont mind the bare-bones, homy charm of this place. But the food is merely average, if that. However, extra star for the not so average selection and portion sizes.
(3)
Jason S.
Food is quick, decent, too many choices, friendly inside staff. Unfortunately your first interaction is with an older lady outside who takes your name. She was really weird asking to keep someone dog, throwing her candy wrappers on the street. Couldn't be a worse "face" to your business for those who never been yet inside.
(3)
Karen L.
We had a really bad brunch here this morning. I went with 3 friends, two of whom had the Neptune omelet, which seemed crazy (although they liked it). I had the Cha-Cha omelet--a Tex-Mex style thing made severely mediocre by below-average ingredients (canned black olives, cruddy salsa), possibly the worst "home fries" I've ever had (boiled potatoes partially rewarmed and sprinkled with paprika), and wheat toast that resembled cardboard more than food. My friend had what was theoretically homemade corned beef hash that, tragically, smelled and tasted like canned hash (at best) vs. Alpo (at worst). We unenthusiastically took a few bites of the egg nog "French Toast," which is basically dry cake crusted with some fried egg and covered with canned apple pie filling and whipped cream. Apparently, sprinkle of cinnamon = egg nog. The one positive was the plentiful (if otherwise average) coffee. Perhaps the impatient, crusty service is part of the charm for some people, but to my mind, it just completed the "we don't give a fuck about you or your fucking breakfast" picture. I was told by the Neptune-eating friends that prior experiences at this joint were better. However, after today's breakfast, I cannot for the life of me understand the appeal of this place, or why anyone would come here more than once.
(1)
Basile T.
If you like a big menu, you're in the right place! They pretty much have every type of omelette you can think of. I personally think the menu is too big, and the food is very good for a diner-like place. Definitely try it out.
(4)
Lynette S.
How sad that the big guy who always seems to be there had a tantrum when i asked him something. he tried to intimidate and embarass us and it did not work. I did not think it was good that he referred to the waitress as "the spanish girl" and and qccused us of not having enough money to pay the bill. (entirely untrue!) he needs to get a life. Result = not going back!
(1)
Gray S.
I recently moved to a place about three blocks away from Sorella's. I had been there maybe four years ago and had a positive experience so I was excited to have a cute little breakfast joint near at hand. My repeat visit was sadly lacking. 1) My friend was served spoiled milk for which they were not very apologetic. Honestly this is forgivable, It was in a little seal bottle so this probably wasn't their fault. Still, gross. 2)My friend ordered eggs Benedict, which comes with three eggs. He was only served two, which he didn't notice until he was just about finished eating everything and someone from the kitchen came out with a poached egg in a bowl and handed it to him telling him that they had forgotten an egg. Ok, weird but again forgivable. 3) Ok, so my actual complaint. I ordered their home made blueberry bread french toast. Yum right? Bread with blueberries in it, I've never even seen that, how novel! Except this isn't blueberry bread, it's "blueberry bread", You know that tea bread that's not bread at all, it's like a muffin or cake incognito as bread? Yeah so the french toast is really that, three huge slices of very sweet cake, dipped a tiny bit in eggs, and warm. It's not bad blueberry bread, but it's not french toast and three slices of the stuff is way more cake than anyone should have for breakfast. Also I splurged and ordered mine with real maple syrup, I was excited they had it, I hate that fake stuff. However I would have to be a masochistic diabetic or a 5 year old child to put it on top of the already very sweet cake I was served. The place has a greasy spoon atmosphere at best and the prices aren't great enough to excuse it. They have a huge menu, which is kind of paralyzing to consider in the early am, but offers a lot of options. They had a $6 minimum per person, so don't bring your not so hungry friend in for a cup of coffee and an English muffin. All this said, I will probably be back to give them another chance since they are so close by. I will get an omelet next time and I will let you know how it goes.
(2)
Erica B.
Sad. When I first moved to JP, almost 12 years ago, I really enjoyed Sorella's. Yes, the coffee was bad, but it was a reliable, kid-friendly option that served reasonable food and was very vegetarian friendly. But over time it has become terrible. I don't mind the sometimes surly service (only the big guy is good), or the unnecessarily long menu. But the food and hygiene have reached a low that is repulsive. Nothing's fresh or generous anymore. The final straw for me was when I went in there with my nephews (little boys) and had to take one if them to the bathroom (which is filthy and basically in the kitchen) and I got a good look at the cramped and downright dirty, disorganized kitchen. Then we were served pancakes made from spoilt batter! When we sent them back, the Big Guy didn't apologize, just made an excuse. didn't offer to remake them or bring something else. Moments later we found red hairs in one of the kid's eggs. They don't serve real syrup except at an up charge, no vegetables in food anymore... I could've handled it. But rotten batter and hairs and a filthy bathroom in the kitchen? Never again. Nasty.
(1)
Sachin P.
Recently had their brunch and overall had a good, not great, experience. The location is a bit weird with 2-3 different dining rooms but it doesn't feel too odd once you are seated. The main plus of this location is the incredible selection of menu choices. For brunch the menu was loaded with choices. I am a vegetarian and was eating with a group of non-vegetarians and there was no shortage of choices to go around. Service was good and the waitstaff was very pleasant. Last, but not least, the food...this was good and opinions varied across the table. I was very happy but my wife was underwhelmed.
(4)
Hanna B.
they do not accept credit cards: annoying. they have all kinds of crazy shit. lots of vegetarian stuff (yay!) service in my experience has been mostly shitty, but the food is generally really good and it's definitely "an experience." go there.
(4)
BJ C.
My favorite place for breakfast. That is all.
(4)
Mel F.
I have been to this place 2 times too many. I live very close by and was curious about the line. The first time I went, there was no line, however the service was awful! We ordered coffee, the waiter brings it...w/out sugar, or a spoon, or milk. When we asked for those things, it was as if we were asking for a favor. The breakfast wasn't so good after all, so we were still wondering about the line. We concluded that perhaps we should have ordered an omelet, since they have a huge omelet menu... Take 2: Another day, and we ordered omelets. The service was awful, the waitress was mean and SICK (runny nose, cough and cleaning it with her hands). Oh, and the omelets? Raw! I still don't get why people do this line to be treated so badly and pay for it, when you can go a few steps further and have a wonderful breakfast with the best coffee in JP at Oriental de Cuba. Needless to say, I don't go to places where people make big lines to get in anymore!
(1)
Derek B.
Zillah told me about the long lines of hungry people waiting for a seat and some sustenance here on the weekend, but she continued to describe it as "greasy spoon." A huge omelette, stuffed to bursting with arugala, black beans, avocado, fresh chevre, shiitake mushrooms, basil, and I-don't-even-remember-what-else; is that "greasy spoon"? True, the place had a bit of the small-town gritty cafe look-and-feel, but in its food it transcended the stereotype. Delicious and fun, and I will definitely go back when I'm in Boston.
(4)
Karen B.
A great greasy spoon for a chilly fall or winter morning breakast. They have omelet specials scribbled all over the walls, the menus carry a sheen of grease, and your plates and silverware will never match. Truly eclectic. You can get any combination of vegetables/cheese/meat in an omelet. Haven't tried the pancakes. The hash rocks, but gives nasty indigestion. Coffee is so-so. It's darn cheap though. A great meal to wake up over. The server may give you the evil eye, but you can't take it personally. They do it to everyone.
(4)
Tony B.
Rachel J. My sentiments exactly. We waited no less than 45 minutes without even a sideways glance after placing our order. Our fresh squeezed OJ never even left the tree. The grilled blueberry muffin requested was rare upon arrival. However, the French toast (corn bread and texas style) were absolutely to die for. We had ours topped with cranberry/strawberry and apple/walnut respectfully. Great food, less than stellar service.
(3)
Lindsay D.
Went here the other day for brunch with a large party and while it's not convenient for those who have a car and never carry cash it's still well worth it. The atmosphere was warm and cozy on a rainy Sunday morning (it was a-ok that none of us had showered after our night out just yet), the menu was enormous, and the portions were massive and delicious. My Sorella's Mozzarella (texas toast, fried egg, fresh spinach, and mozzarella with marinara sauce) was amazing... as was the Almond Blue Nana pancake that I ordered on the side. the coffee was decent - certainly nothing to write home about but also nothing to stick my nose up at either. The rest of the Caffeine Addicts felt the same, drinking about 3 cups each (our standard bottomless coffee at breakfast is usually 4-6 cups). Everyone else raved about the food as well and we all left fat and happy, full of pancake and omelet goodness. Sorella's, you officially have a customer for life.
(4)
aa d.
For what Sorella's is - namely, a diner/truck-stop style greasy spoon with something of a JP crunchy twist - it comes through just fine. The food isn't going to stack up well against a swanky brunch at Aquitaine or Spire or the Gilded Truffle, but that isn't what you want this morning, now is it. You're hungover, maybe still a little drunk, you're in the dirty jeans you fell asleep wearing, you haven't showered and you need eggs, cheese & potatoes. With sausage. And a pancake. Fair enough - but seaweed?. Sure, why not. Your omelet is going to be cooked on a flat top grill that probably hasn't really been cleaned in 10 years, it will have holes in it and maybe a few brown spots here and there. A bewilderingly random assortment of ingredients will be stuffed into it haphazardly, without much regard for precise cooking times or appearance. And the hashbrowns will be a mixed bag. But remember, this is what you want. That, and a half pound of butter slathered onto your unevenly browned toast. More space would be nice, but come on, this is the city, right? You'd have to pay for that. Didn't get the eggs with your pancake special? Par for the course - speak up and have it fixed, that's a lot of plates to remember, ok? A recent early AM visit saw the front dining room filled with DPW workers and Police officers - people who actually work for a living know where to eat. Besides, where else are you going to go? If you want a relaxing Sunday brunch, go somewhere else. If you need to dilute the residual alcohol in your system with pork fat, cheese & eggs (and the aforementioned seaweed) on a Tuesday morning - Sorella's will do just fine.
(3)
Leigh K.
This is the brunch place I bring every guest from out of town to. There are a crazy, slightly over the top, amount of choices of food, from at least 25-30 different omelettes exploding with fillings to 10-15 different pancake or french toast options. The coffee is as close to diner coffee that you can get in the JP area, which I just adore. The wait used to be out of control but is now much better due to their new expansion. The waitstaff can be not-so-warm, but they do their job and you very rarely have an empty glass of water or coffee. The added bonus? Sorellas is has been a sponsor of a girls softball team in JP for at least 4 years now; I love that community connection. A must eat if you are in the JP area!
(4)
Art S.
Clearly this is one of those places that, if you don't like weird shit in your pancakes and can't handle the "I'll get to you when I get to you" attitude, you will be screaming to yourself "ohmygodthisplacesuckswhatthehellareyoupeopletalkiÂngabout!" For the rest of us, we know that this is not TGI Friday's. I don't give a crap if my server pretends to be happy to see me or not, so long as she brings me my grease. I'd rather have really good food served with a snarl than a bunch of crap on a plate served with a smile. Until someone else can serve me pistachio pancakes, AND be happy about it, I'll continue to think Sorella's is awesome.
(4)
Abby L.
OK, I'd read the reviews, but I still had to go. It's a great looking place. It's a hole in the wall, great light, very colorful. I love the space. The menu was great, too. So many options and very unique combinations of things. I know that sounds like the beginning of a great review, but by the time I left, I knew I wouldn't be back any time soon. My fellow diners liked the random sheets of paper with menu items that were pinned up all over the walls, but I found it a little overwhelming. The choices on the menu are extensive enough already. The waitress was an older woman who tended to show no expression, so I never knew if she was hearing what we wanted or not because she didn't respond or nod or anything. She mumbled, too, so I wasn't always sure what she was asking. She seemed pretty unhappy to be there. Together, me and my three fellow diners ordered the Mexican Polenta, the Spanish Omelette, the Gingerbread Pancakes, and the Pumpkin Pancakes with Cranberry and Walnuts. My pumpkin pancakes were completely undercooked, so I ate around the edges of each pancake. There were WAY too many cranberries in the thing. Each bite had 4 or 5 little ones inside. I didn't order cranberry pancakes, did I? I didn't spot any walnuts. They were topped with cream cheese (a big hunk) and strawberries. Under ripe and overly soaked strawberries. YUCK! Between that and the doughy middle, I ate almost none of my breakfast, and that is VERY unlike me. My friend who ordered the Gingerbread pancakes loved them. I didn't, so I guess that was a matter of taste. The Mexican Polenta was weird. It had raw jalapeno's, so when you bit in, the heat of the dish seemed to somehow sit on top of the actual flavor. Not well integrated at all. Apparently the Spanish Omelette was "pretty good". I do know that the home fries that came with it were good, so that's something. I just feel like they need to shorten the menu and work on improving the recipes that they have. The start of a great breakfast place is there, but the execution is SORELY lacking.
(2)
Julie A.
way too over priced. They claim to have "gourmet" breakfast. All I have to say is c'mon, really?! It's not. The menu looks like it, and looks like it would all taste really good. it's not, and they are always out of 1/2 of the stuff they claim to offer. There is a wait to get in because it's small and really cramped and the wait staff and cooks take forever, not because it's good. It's also dirty.
(2)
wendy g.
Every breakfast combination available all day. I love this restaurant. I have sooo much fun every time we go. We always bring our out of town friends to show them that breakfast with Wendy (that's me) is aways "off the hook"-- you'll love the food at Sorella's and if you are a true foody- that's all that matters.
(5)
robert o.
A good standard breakfast joint... We went on Saturday early, no wait. I had the french toast special - 2 eggs home fries and coffee. Everything was excellent. My partner had hash and egg, which he truly enjoyed.
(4)
Ann F.
The gigantic and inventive menu at Sorella's rocks!! The quality of food prep is sometimes a mixed bag - occasionally the omlettes are a bit undercooked, for example - but sometimes phenomenal. I'm always willing to take a chance on Sorella's... the portions are huge, and though the lines are long, this is a classic JP experience not to be missed.
(4)
Bonnie G.
Sorella's is to Centre St. Cafe as: a)Rod Dees is to Brown Sugar Cafe b)Tello's is to H&M c)Rodney's book is to Brookline Booksmith d)Trader Joe's is to Whole Foods I think you're getting the point. Located at the rotary at Centre St. and Perkins St. (39 bus stops, 41 bus stops, Jackson Sq or Stoneybrook T stop on the orange line), this randomly two stories (random cause the two stories aren't on top of another) serves breakfast that will satisfy your hangover anger and lethargy. Around the corner (kind of) from Centre St. Cafe, one does love the polish and amazing organic food they serve (plus the host who looks like Anthony Keidis), but Sorella's got moxie and a resigned efficiency (kinda like when you stop by your friends house and her mom makes you an apple cinnamon pancake and plops it on your plate in silent resentment but you dont care cause it tastes good). Before you go, grab an iced coffee from Junebag Cafe across the street (or stop by JP Licks for some) and while you are at it grab juice- a large bottle of chug costs 4 bucks! I prefer the downstairs, but grab a host right away to get your name on the list and be prepared to wait (this is when your drink comes in handy). You can also call them ahead of time for reservations. They can sit two people or like ten. They have insane menu options scrawled all over the walls in lamenated slips, chalkboards, like fuckin Memento. These are ADDITIONAL to your menu! Special notes: On their omlettes option, you can replace the egg with tofu! All you vegan-heads out there-do it! I have tried a lot here, but the Nutty Pancakes (chock full of all kinds of nuts and chocolate chips) taste like Baklava and the best. Cheap ass mimosas. The waffles are fluffy and freeze well (I tend to overorder, ok?). They have special breads for the french toast. The omlettes are gigantic and I have yet to see anyone finish one. The home fries are a little too big, but not too greasey and definitely satisfying. Cash only. And yeah, take your out of town friends here to impress them, then take a walk around the pond. Nothin wrong with that.
(5)
Nicholas C.
Reasonably priced, relaxed breakfast spot in JP. Friendly staff that didn't rush us. I had the basic 2 egg, homefries, and toast (4.95), which was delicious. My friends had more complicated dishes, which they actually weren't so fond of, but my dish was soo good that I'll definitely be back.
(3)
matthew h.
I've been here for breakfast exactly once and although I try not to rate places after only one attendance I couldn't help it in this case. The breakfast menu is wicked freakin' huge. It's not even like a "oh look, they have a southwestern omelette," but rather a "holy crap you can put that on an omelette???" I'm sure not everything on the menu is bruncherific but show me a menu this big that is. I plan on bringing a notebook next time to make a list of the things I've tried. I see that some people have given the servers less than stellar results but ours was pretty good. We had to end up bringing the check up to the register but they were in the middle of a big table turnover so it was no big deal. I can't wait to try it again.
(4)
Aimee S.
I love this place. They have so many breakfast choices, it's quite hard to decide, but well worth it! Reading the menus gave me some great ideas for stuff to make at home too! The coffee was great and the food was tasty and well priced.
(4)
Shannon C.
My brunch confidante and I gave Sorella's 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for the imaginative mind that keeps coming up with new ways to combine some basic breakfast ingredients. I ordered pumpkin pancakes with strawberries and cream cheese. Sorella's menu makes you think, "huh. who thought of that?" Which means you may spend several minutes looking over the menu. Don't worry, the staff seems to be prepared for that! Too bad the coffee tastes like dirty water and the tables are smushed (word? if so, sp?) so close together a guy next to us almost knocked my friend's plate off the table. Still, a good breakfast option in JP.
(4)
Natasha N.
Cheap, huge selection, and amazing pancakes, waffles, fresh juices and plenty of good vegetarian offerings. However I'm more of a savory breakfast kind of girl. They never scimp of fresh fruits or veggies but I would recommend ordering strategically when it comes to their kitchen sink approach to omelet making. i.e. loaded omelets minus a few toppings- marinara on the side, w/o RAW garlic, etc for an optimal experience. The service can be on the slow side, definitely a mixed bag when it comes to service , and the decor, well they could use ALOT of help. Despite it's imperfections its a solid neighborhood establishment.
(2)
Matthew A.
Horrible hole in the wall with overpriced "gourmet" pancakes. Yeah right. Why do they serve tap water in old yellow plastic tumblers. Sitting shoulder to shoulder. Grungy looking female waitstaff with nose rings. I think I would rather eat at home. Thank You.
(1)
Kevin M.
This place is good... better than Mike's (In the south end)... but a little pricier as well... most items aren't bad (pancakes, french toast, etc..) but the fresh squeezed orange juice is $5! (They also offer the bottled Garelick OJ, a better value). The signs on the tables are written in magic marker on spare construction paper! But, the place has character... service is spotty (Some good, some not so good, but what do you expect?) Overall, good experience! Bathroom was VERY clean, which scores extra points in my book. and if you go, try the oatmeal pancakes... very light and tasty!
(4)
Meg K.
Massive portions, a creative menu, and great prices. Sorella's is my favorite place to take overnight guests for weekend brunch. You can get a platter-sized omelette with any combination of breakfast meats, cheeses, herbs, and vegetables, and breakfast breads with nuts, fruits, and sauces (gingerbread french toast was a recent favorite). There are plenty of vegetarian options as well. They have bland hash browns, but you'll have so much other food on your plate that they are unecessary. If you want a whole avocado or 5 strips of bacon in your omelette, or you think it would be fun to try brie and asparagus with eggs, or pumpkin pancakes with whipped cream cheese, try Sorella's. The service is hit-or-miss. You definitely want to be seated in the first-floor room. The last couple of times we have gotten the woman we refer to as "the worst waitress ever". She forgets parts of your order, and gets grumpy when you ask, "can I please have my toast now?" There also tend to be long waits, but a sign on the door says they have begun taking reservations. All in all Sorella's has a terrific menu and great prices, with mediocre service.
(4)
elizabeth l.
go to sorella's for an unparalleled and unexpectedly delightful breakfast experience, complete with yummy food, bitter coffee, sweet artwork, and a surly waitress (if you're lucky). with oodles of options, you'll be able to choose from the most unique selection of omelettes, waffles, and pancakes i've ever seen. keep in mind that this place is completely unpretentious, and the wait staff will probably ignore you. more likely than not, you will hear someone yelling in the kitchen. this is all part of the charm of dining in a restaurant that feels like someone's dysfunctional household. i recommend locating the bathroom because you get to practically walk through the kitchen to find it. you may laugh, you may cry, but you are guaranteed to have an unforgettable time.
(5)
Will C.
Sorella's is pretty damn good. The first time I went, I had hash and eggs, and they were awesome. They have great pancakes as well. That's all I really need. Hash thats not soggy, eggs cooked the way I want with a little cheese on top, and the option of some bomb pancakes. You do that well, automatic 5 stars from me. They're menu is pretty extensive outside of that too. My friend got the eggs rockefeller that looked effin tops. My only complaint is that their home fries have gotten progressively worse every time I've ordered them.
(5)
Tiff S.
Pleasantly surprised by the menu. Food was yummy, big portions. Good price.
(5)
Casey S.
people ask me where they should go for breakfast in Boston and this place is my response.
(5)
Sarah S.
The reason that this place has either 5 or 1 star depending on the reviewer is that they have an excellent menu that that cannot do justice to on the weekends. There is a huge selection of omelets and pancakes to chose from, and they're delicious - if you go at a time when they're not so busy that you are served cold undercooked food. They expanded their dining area but not their kitchens about 3 years ago, and compounded their problems. The service on the weekends is slow, and the food is often undercooked or shoddily assembled. Go on a weekday morning and you get to experience what they are capable of.
(3)
Amelia E.
Pretty good!! SO many choices of things to eat!!!
(3)
Erin H.
People seem to love this place, and in a recent visit, I too enjoyed the large omelette with huge potatoes on the side. I went on a Sunday, a popular time for the brunch establishment. While chatting with my friends, I kept an eye on the open tables; I did not want to take too long at my table talking if there were people who were waiting to get in. The whole time I noticed that a few tables maintained empty the entire time: a table for four and a couple tables for two. I was shocked when we were then hurried out and asked to pay because "there was a line outside." Really? A line? Then why the empty tables? We paid and left, and told the people waiting outside to complain because there were empty tables inside. I probably won't go back.
(2)
Tori O.
Do not get the vegetarian hash. It was terrible and looked like compost. The only interesting thing is the fact that they have basically everything you could want to be put in pancakes or an omelette but quality goes down with the increased quantity. It also is very cheap but there are much better places.
(2)
Korri Leigh C.
As long as you can handle the A.D.D. process of trying to figure out what you're going to order, the food is awesome. Sorella's is a perfect hungover Sunday brunch. You will be happy no matter what you choose after pouring over the huge menu and/or trying to pick something off the crazy walls. Be patient with the wait-staff, I know from experience that brunch service can be frazzling. Frazzling is that even a word?
(4)
Mitchell B.
It's by far one of the better breakfast joints in the Boston Area.
(4)
Elle R.
Sorella's has the worst service I have ever experienced. I went in on a weekday morning with two friends. Only a few tables were occupied and we were seated right away. And then the nightmare known as "customer service at Sorella's" began. We waited 5 minutes for menus. We had to ask the waitress for them twice. After another 5 minutes, she took drink orders. Three waters, one small orange juice and one large orange juice. She comes back with two small orange juices and no waters. It took asking her four times and 45 minutes to get water to the table. It was almost as though she was avoiding the hell out of us. Two tables were seated while we were trying to get her attention to order food. She took their orders before ours! We sat there for 45 minutes waiting to have our orders taken. We were on the verge of throwing $5 on the table and walking out to get food somewhere else when she finally took our food orders. The food was good, which is the only reason this restaurant gets stars, and didn't take a lifetime to come out. Our waters came with the food, but the waitress never checked in to see how it was or if we needed something (which, of course, we did... since our table lacked jelly and other condiments). Luckily, we had asked for the check with the food and she brought that speedily enough. I will never return here again, even though it is close by. The food does not make up for the unbelievably sub-par service. I got faster service from stoned hippie waiters at dive bars in Portland, OR.
(2)
Matthew M.
I like Sorella's. Though the quality of the food is nothing special, the sheer variety of interesting and unique items on the menu makes up for it. Where else on earth can you get macadamia-banana-peanut butter pancakes? Even though you might be able to make a more skillfully executed meal at home, it's worth paying the modest prices at Sorella's just for the chance to get inspiration from the menu, if for nothing else. If you're in JP and it's time for brunch, don't pass it up.
(4)
E.G. S.
Go to this place. You will almost not want to go anywhere else for breakfast again. On Sunday there may be a wait so bundle up if its cold. They have the most interesting combination omelets and pancakes on the planet. ordinary stuff too but you can go anywhere for that, right?
(5)
Kristina M.
What a disappointment! Having read all these raving reviews about their breakfast/brunch I headed out there on Saturday looking forward to a yummy brunch experience. Instead, I left feeling very dissatisfied. For one, even though they have about 300 options on their menu, there was exactly ONE dish that they were willing to make vegan. Hey, as a vegan I am used to being restricted in my food options, but I would have appreciated a little more willingness to accommodate us (especially since they explicitly encourage customers to inquire about specific dietary requests). Anyway, I would be willing to be forgiving about this if the one dish they offered would have at least been good. But it wasn't. The tofu stir-fry was pretty bad, the ingredients didn't look like they were high-quality or even fresh, and I had to pour a lot of hot sauce on it to be able to eat it. It wasn't exactly horrible and didn't make me feel sick either, but it was definitely not something I'd usually pay for. On top of that, the service isn't particularly friendly either (one of the waiters was OK, but the other was really quite grumpy). They also charged 5$ for an orange juice, which they claimed was freshly squeezed, but which in fact clearly was from a bottle. All in all, a really disappointing experience. (Admittedly, it might be a much better place for non-vegans, and I like the diner-style, which is why I give it 2 rather than 1 star, but as a vegan I can only say: Don't go!)
(2)
Kyle F.
i love your fantastic brunch foods. so tasty tasty. but i hate your stupid lines.
(3)
Roberto C.
Like the food but the people act like they're doing you a favor. If you can put up w/tired little hs hussies - still tipped them, but they can have someone elses bidness next time. Btw, almost every time I've been here either there is a UFO floating in my water or there's some sort of chap stick/lip stick smeared across the rim of my glass. Do yourself a favor, go to Centre St next door.
(1)
Exa V.
Let's get this straight. Sorella's is a diner. A creative diner, a cool diner, yes. It's still a diner. It's dirty like a diner, almost as cheap as one, and the coffee is about that good (read: not very good at all). Furthermore, it's a breakfast/brunch place, so show up after 10 and yeah, expect a wait. I've been to Sorella's twice and will definitely go again. I've had the vegetarian hash and eggs over medium, which was solid, and a #9 omelette with broccoli, tomatoes, red peppers, and jarlsberg cheese. Also solid. Some could complain that the vegetable chunks are way too big, but I love me some veggies and don't mind much. The flavors of both dishes were great, although I found the hash a little disappointing--I wanted more flavor in the tofu. I like the service--it's semi-efficient, heavy on the coffee and tattoos, and funny. I like the waitresses. On my last venture we had a very strange man who sat next to us. The waitress dealt with him very well, and we all had a good laugh afterwards. The menu is overwhelming huge, so I would suggest figuring out if you want savory or sweet (read: eggs or pancakes/french toast) and figuring it out from there. Or just have polenta. Whatever. The list of pancakes and french toasts looks fantastic, but I never end up ordering them for some reason. Probably because the omelettes are so awesome looking too--except for the ones with nuts! Who puts nuts in an omelette, for serious?! Anyway, I love Sorella's. It's a cool place. Yay.
(4)
Jamie A.
oh man, oh man, oh man! talk about CHOICES! this place has more than you've ever imagined for breakfast! On a darling street of JP right next to the Animal Hospital and the Milky Way, lies Sorella's, a little hole in the wall rounding the corner. I had read about it in my MAP BOSTON planner, so I was all psyched to try it out. I recommend going with one of those friends who loves putting both your plates in the middle of the table and sharing everything. We couldn't decide on sweet or savory, so we ordered the Gingerbread pancakes (w/ sour cream & fresh strawberries) and Toni's omelet (goat cheese, spinach, portobellos, sun-dried tomatoes, & sprouts on top). DAMN. Those pancakes were INCREDIBLE. I swear, sour cream is the secret ingredient to making everything more amazing. The omelet was also tasty, but we agreed that we like our omelets to have every ingredient in each bite, and the ingredients in this one weren't chopped at all, so they were rather awkward to eat. But anyways, be prepared to pour over a GIANT menu--complete with more specials ALL OVER the walls, & also be prepared to sit for awhile, as their service consisted of one girl. yeah. Plus, they've got legit coffee that you can drink black, which is a huge plus in my book!
(4)
Pickle P.
I really want to like Sorella's, I really do. After all, 10,000 lesbians can't be wrong! But friends and I have had too many raw veggie omelettes and the coffee is truck stop swill. One friend said flatly, "That was the worst breakfast I've ever had." They should edit the menu and concentrate on getting the basics down. Don't be fooled by the line of hipsters in those silly skinny jeans outside smoking Camels, they're not old enough to know better.
(2)
Lynette M.
Interesting breakfast options tons of pancakes and omelettes. I preferred the pancakes. Sometimes a weekend wait...
(3)
Daniel M.
Don't heed the doubters. Sorella's blueberry pancakes own. That is all.
(4)
Paul M.
The only reason I can't give this 5 stars is because of the ridiculously long wait for brunch on sunday. And the wait is long...expect to spend at least 30min waiting for a table. You can make reservations before 10am, but come on who is up that early on a sunday. This is pretty much the most perfect breakfest place ever, it took me forever to decide what to get because everything sounded so good. And it was. I may have to make Sorellas an every weekend kind of thing.
(4)
Amanda D.
Sorella's is the best breakfast place around for those of us that live in JP. The Center St cafe is in close competition, but their operating hours put Sorella's ahead by 1 point. Sorella's has the kind of creative breakfast menu that makes your mouth water while you try to figure out what to order. Whether you like savory or sweet when you first wake up, they have it all. I really like their crepes and omlettes. And fresh OJ too. While I have been quoted a wait time of 20 minutes on a weekend morning, I have never waited more then 5-10 minutes.
(5)
Thuy L.
Have you ever gone for brunch and wish there was more of a selection? If so, you haven't been to Sorella's. Talk about a wide selection, 4 pages of front and back brunch selections. Ten different bread choices for French toast; 30 different kinds of omelette options with every single kind of combinatioions of ingredients possible, and various breakfast burrito options. Portions are huge here. I got the James omelette with tomatos, spinach, gouda, artichoke hearts, olives, garlic, and about 5 other ingredients. My omelette was a little runny and the ingredients were not spread evenly through the omelette. There were portions of the omelette that had more artichoke hearts than others, portions that had more gouda than others, but it was pretty good. I also got a side of bacon--a litte bit greasier than normal but hey, it wasn't that bad. Aside from the slow service and the fact that they do not take credit cards can make it a little frustrating, but there is definitely something there for everyone.
(3)
Alex M.
A friend and I took the T all the way from Cambridge to get pancakes here and it was worth it. That should tell it all. The portions are huge for reasonable prices, the staff are friendly, the atmosphere is comfortable, and the pancakes are delicious! Vegetarian friendly, for sure. Too small for groups, but great for a cozy breakfast with a friend, or intimate.
(5)
Amanda S.
I can't believe it has taken me this long to try Sorella's- I will definitely be back. Omlettes were huge & packed with fresh veggies. I had Toni's Omlette with portobello, spinach, sun-dried tomato, and goat cheese, served with toast & great homefries. The menu has something for everyone whether you're looking for the average breakfast sandwich, or something a little more unique (lots of pancake, fresh toast, and omlette choices). The space is small, but homey. Give it a try! Unfortunately- cash only.
(4)
Laura A.
hmm, what to say about sorella's...i really really like it. everyone needs a little grease in their lives and you'll find it here. i like that they have vegan and vegetarian options. i like the lack of wait and the townie kinda attitude. it's the dirty dive of brunch places. however- my stomach ALWAYS feels upset after i finish eating here..i suspect they cook the homefries on the same grill as the meat or something because (as vegetarians on here know what i'm talking about, i'm sure) something just didn't sit right in my stomach. do i give it four stars for having a dirty grill? no...i'm giving it four stars for having vegan options, truckstop style brunch options for my gluttonous boyfriend who loves meat, and for brunch for four people totaling less than $30. and for having fucking POLENTA for breakfast. POLENTA! i love that shit! and covered with vegetarian chili no less...yum. avoid the home fries, veg-people!
(4)
Sarah S.
Yes, Sorella's has a "kooky, kindergarden atmosphere"--I'll give them that. But what lies beyond that, I'll tell you. Their breakfast options are so sorted, so random and wild, that the staff almost improbably follow suit. For the past several times I've eaten there (because it's the closest breakfast joint to my boyfriend's house) I've either been turned down at the door ("Sorry, we just closed"--Even when people have obviously just been seated and are still reviewing the menu!) or it's taken me extra-long to be seated. Yesterday was the final straw & that's why I'm writing. The wait was 30 minutes; and just as we passed this half-hour marker, all the parties after us were seated, well, before us, prompting my boyfriend to ask a waitress what's up. She said there were two tables ahead of us. How could that be? We'd gotten there over 30 minutes ago, done our penance, and now were watching everyone we observed arrive go break bread ahead of us. Of the food, the selections are great, but the quality is hit or miss. Sometimes my eggs are runny when I wanted them scrambled; my hashbrowns not cooked enough. And, what's worse, they're stingy with the napkins. Come on, Salmonella's. Stop being so schizo. Seat your patrons, serve your patrons, and don't gimme no lip. Make that with a side of extra napkins.
(2)
L-Train A.
Sorella's is a place that gets five stars in many categories, but then also has some one star stuff going on. They have an insane number of different kinds of omelettes. Insane. And the food is pretty darn good overall. It is kind of fun too because it is physically eclectic. It was originally two row homes, and you kind of weave around through different rooms to get seated. They ought to play this up, and make it feel kind of homey and cozy, but they don't. The one-star stuff is that they just aren't nice to you. Not mean per se, but just no warmth, smiling, etc., and I kind of feel relieved when we are done and it's time to go so I am no longer bothering these people by being in their restaurant. And the coffee is mediocre, but refilled constantly.
(3)
Heather K.
Sorellas is one of JP's hidden gems. Yes, it's kind of divey, yes, it's small and cramped, and yes, the waitresses can be a bit sassy but these qualities are all part of the charm. The omelet and pancake/french toast options are vast and I've never ordered something that I wasn't 100% happy with.
(5)
Christine C.
If I were writing this review a few years ago, it would have been much better. I used to think that this was the ultimate breakfast place. What changed? Well, I tried it again recently and was disappointed in the service (it took a VERY long time to order and get water filled) and the food (underdone food and a weird taste on the bread). I actually tried it TWICE thinking that maybe they were just having a bad day. It was bad both times. Sorry, Sorella's...
(2)
Katie W.
I am not sure what all the hype is about Sorella's. The first time I ate there I must have been influenced from rave reviews and the overwhelming menu. I ordered Andrea's Omelette and thought it was great. I ate there a few more times, ordering other things such as pancakes (which must have been cooked next to an omelette because they tasted like garlic), some vegetarian thing with tempeh which was nasty, and french toast (also tasting of garlic). I don't know if it was the fact that I noticed they put the food that's ready to be served in this little window down by the cook's feet, but the next time I ordered Andrea's Omelette I thought that was gross too. So if you don't know whether you want sweet or savory next time you go out to breakfast, head over to Sorella's and order yourself some pancakes.
(2)
Rachel G.
i used to live a block away from this place and it was dangerous! every weekend, forget waiting on the insane line to eat there...we would call ahead and get take out and eat in the comfort of our home with cartoons and pjs! the simple egg sandwich is perfect...however...it's all about the banana peanut butter muffins. they are beyond heavenly. like, freaking amazing! i've tried to make my own recipes and they just don't come out the same. the price is right as is the coffee. a nice little tough to jp!
(4)
Tim B.
My girlfriend and I prefer Centre St. Cafe for a basic breakfast but if you want a little something out of the ordinary Sorella's is great.
(4)
Bri T.
cheap cheap cheap! good food and (once you are seated) quick and friendly service. although it could be cleaner -- this is overall a great brunch place!
(3)
Paul I.
Great breakfast spot! Make sure to go on a weekend or holiday, when you can get into the upstairs. The menu is HUGE.. full of specialty omelets, pancakes and french toasts. And the walls downstairs are covered with additional menu items, dreamed up by customers, no doubt. The waitstaff is polite and kind, if not always prompt. Their mimosas have no orange pulp -- so pulp lovers beware! :)
(4)
Gail L.
Imagine EVERY ingredient possible, then choose about 10 or 12 of them, then have it made into the most tasty omelet you've ever eaten. The menu doesn't begin to hold all the options available to you...the walls are covered with many, many more, named after friends, employees, relatives and regular customers..it's a family run business, and they all work here. Fresh squeezed juice, vegetarian hash, and more kinds of pancakes than you've ever thought possible. My favorite...pumpkin cranberry walnut...you don't need syrup, but you can have fruit and whipped cream on top...only drawback is the coffee...not very good
(5)
Stephen S.
Sorella's is completely the jam for breakfast if you know what you are doing. Tiny crazy space crammed full of people and rad waitstaff, lines half as long as the ones for Centre St. Cafe, and the pancakes are like basically doing it in your mouth they are so good. HERE IS THE PROBLEM: They have a lot of crazy omelets that look insane and wonderful but which are just sort of like a pile of ingredients in an egg sleeve. So, for example, you might order the "Jennifer's Special" (or whatever) and then it comes and you take a bite and it is all EGG + RASPBERRY. But then the next one is just EGG + CASHEWS, and then suddenly you are wrestling with an entire half-avocado sitting in there and you slump over because the point of an omelet is that all the ingredients are friends, co-mingling with each other in a big egg playground. SO If you are a breakfast spartan like me and like your eggs over easy then it is a great place to go, but ALSO it is a good place to play a BREAKFAST PRANK.
(3)
mike G.
Really good breakfast. We got omelette's a split an order of banana mango pancakes. I the pancakes were good but I don't think its the best combo to order, and my eggs were a bit runny. Also, we had to wait for 40 minutes and it took a while to get our food. Overall I would go back. HUGE MENU!
(4)
Day B.
It's really hard for me to even give this restaurant three stars, because every time I go there something happens that isn't cool. However, they do have good food, so that counts for something. Otherwise, I cannot recommend them. First of all, I don't find their staff to be very friendly, and this is based on several visits over 4 years. They never smile it seems. Second, their food is way overpriced...to add blueberries to the pancakes, I've seen them charge $3-$4 extra, and that's unacceptable. Third, I've seen my order get messed up more than twice. Perhaps this stings more becuase I tend to go on the weekends, after I've been waiting a while and I'm hungry. I'd recommend going during the week or when it's not busy to avoid any problems.
(3)
Heather Q.
Eh. It's the place you go to show off to your out-of-town friends how cool JP is. And you will. I know you will. The menu is large and varied, and sounds good in black and white, but I've found the execution to be lacking. The pancakes are dry, and if I recall correctly, you pay extra for syrup. The waitstaff is more than a bit flakey. I've waited as long as 15 minutes for my check because nobody could remember to get it for me.
(3)
John D.
The menu at Sorella's raised my hopes for a delicious brunch, but ultimately, and on multiple occasions, I have left severely disappointed. Overall, the food is rather bland, but well put together. The prices are decent. My most serious misgiving is the service - AWFUL. They refuse to seat a party of 3 waiting for a 4th, and once your group is actually seated, you're likely to get one of their disinterested, unhelpful wait staff. Aside from the fact that the staff seem to hate you from the moment you enter, they are slow slow slow. Another disappointing brunch experience.
(2)
Kristen G.
Some of the most interesting and exciting breakfast options I've ever seen. If you're looking for a fun, decorative atmosphere in which to have your first meal of the day, this is your place. I've gone with large groups, and the food always comes out moderately fast and accurate to how it was ordered. Try this place sometime.
(4)
Lacey P.
This place has a kooky kindergarten atmosphere. Yeah they have 2 floors and an awe inspiring menu. It is vast and wide. But I feel like the waitstaff can't get it together, and I always wait a long time for my food and it is sometimes wrong. But there is very little breakfast going on in JP, so I guess this is tops.
(3)
sandra q.
Sorella's is a homey, affordable joint. Their selection of omelettes and pancakes is huge and I love their Oatmeal-Carrot-Walnut pancakes! The staff is down to earth and friendly, you might even be called 'Hon'. There's always a line out the door and the place is always bustling.
(5)
Sophie R.
Why is everyone so obsessed with Sorella's? Yes, they have a shitload of different options for your omelette or your waffles, but who cares if none of them are very good? Omelettes are stuffed with so many veggies (often still fridge temperature, I should add) that you can barely taste the thin layer of egg stretched around the bulging mass of innards. The toast served with your omelette will actually be soggy wonderbread, barely what one could call toasted. Your waffle will be topped with canned whipped cream that will have melted into a puddle on top of your defrosted strawberries or gelatinous blueberries, and will be served with crappy HFCS-laden "pancake syrup". Your bacon will be fatty and undercooked, served in a pool of its grease without draining. And Sorella's isn't even that cheap. If you got something with none of the fixings that might make it edible, or at least interesting, it'd be reasonable, but in that case you may as well just go to JP Licks for their Sunday morning waffles, and get better coffee to boot.
(1)
Julie F.
Sorella's is family owned and operated-something that happens to be rare now in Boston. Sure sometimes there is a line but so what? If you get there on the earlier or later side of weekend brunch then you won't wait. The choices are unbelievable. Now i read some complaints about the service. My family is from JP and we always say hello and talk to whoever is serving us and we have never had a problem. The problem is when college age students come in to a family eatery and talk at the top of their lungs, cursing,etc. I wish the staff would be meaner and kick out those folks to tell you the truth. Though not perfect, it is a little taste of what having a neighborhood bus. is like and worth the experience. If you want 5 star everything then pay a whole lot more for your gentrifying experience. Oh! if you want to get a vegan breakfast in un-vegan friendly Boston then this is the place. While you may not be able to eat the pancakes there are more vegan options then just a bagel so you won't feel hungry while your non-vegan friends are eating.
(4)
seana m.
Sorellas is my all time favorite breakfast/brunch spot. Sometimes the wait is terribble but I typically stick it out becasue the food is so good. It is cramped, not super clean and the staff isn't the friendlist. But the food rocks. I love the blueberry pancakes. They have mat, veggie, soy, endless coffee (high test and decaf), fresh squeezed juices, so many omlettes I can't even count em...and lots lots more.
(5)
Sean E.
This place makes me long for good ol' JP. There's really not that many things that do that to tell you the truth. I can totally understand someone thinking Sorella's is a bit overrated. But I've had so many breakfasts out and about in this town and not many can beat Sorella's. And just like many places, the reason is simple. Fresh ingredients. Fresh fruits and veg, fresh breads, nuts, and a fresh and unique menu. Their french toasts are wonders to be reckoned with -- you can get 'em with french bread or challah, and probably a couple others that I can't remember. Yes, the place is popular on weekend so be prepared for a wait -- but of all the times I've been there it wasn't get any longer than 10 minutes max. It's also true the waitresses can be a bit surly, but never offensive. With food this good that's okay with me. Writing this makes me want to Zipcar my butt down there pronto. Oh, and the paying for syrup line that someone wrote on here earlier is a laugh. Peanut butter and banana pancakes *drool*...
(5)
Melissa B.
Holy cow, this place is awesome. Excellent breakfast foods & worth the wait.
(5)
Aaron D.
An omelette is never just an omelette. Sure, anyone can beat a couple eggs and fry them up with some goodies inside, but it takes a seasoned professional to put the right amount of the RIGHT ingredients in a breakfast you won't soon forget. That's how it is at Sorella's. With plenty of meat friendly and veggie friendly omelette options, everyone is sure to find something they'll love. It's cheap, it's quick, and the coffee is good. Don't be fooled by the out-of-date signage, Sorella's is where you want to be.
(4)
Kristine A.
I had never been & was like sure why not, let's try some place new. The place is small & typical mom & pop place that only takes cash. Things to be made aware of when you get there not when the bill is coming Well there were people waiting outside & that meant a wait for a table which is to be expected on a weekend morning. When he said it would be like 5 or 10 min I thought great, not a long wait. Well since he didn't take my name down I wasn't sure how he was going to keep track of people as more & more showed up. He comes outside & starts taking names but the issue is how he put someone else's name before mine but says he knows I was there first. That totally backfired. They ended up getting seated before us & it was already 20 minutes later & hungrier of course. I mentioned this later & then finally got us in. Thank goodness we already knew what we wanted & ordered right away. The server was very friendly & helped us out right away. The have had written signs all over their restaurant & some of which is spelled incorrectly on their menu too. The have so many varieties of pancakes that it's hard to pick which ones you should get. Pretty damn tasty.
(3)
Sophia E.
Was really disappointed since I had such high hopes for this place. Waited for 20 minutes for someone to take our order, was told to move tables because a bigger party was coming in... All of this would have been fine except for the fact that everything on our plates was undercooked. Ordered the eggs special over easy and got eggs that still had the raw whites. Two out of the three sausages were cold if that makes any sense. Everything was so rushed. With the manager yelling at his staff in plain sight of customers, we knew we wouldn't be coming back again. If they took their time and actually paid attention to their customers, it could have been a great spot in JP.
(2)
Sylvia P.
Very affordable and extensive creative brunch menu. It's a small place but we got lucky and our party of 8 was seated pretty quickly. Definitely coming back.
(5)
Allison M.
I had high hopes for this place as well and was disappointed. It appears as a small diner with diner type food which is fine. The food itself was ok. I had a Romeo omelette which comes with grape tomatoes and toast. The omelette came out and there was a random grape tomato just chilling on the plate. Like why is it just on the plate and not in the omelette? And I expected the tomatoes to be sliced..they were just whole tomatoes in an omelette. Also the toast had some green stuff on it. I'm pretty sure it was smeared avocado but they could've done better with that. I also dared to ask for jelly and it was so solid, I couldn't even try it. Probably won't be coming back again but it was an experience.
(2)
Herb S.
I used to go to Sorella's when I lived near JP to get brunch on Sundays. Always had a great experience. Make sure to bring cash!
(5)
Em J.
I used to live in JP, and this was one of my top places for brunch. I still visit every so often. This is a location that is best enjoyed dining in. It's best to go in smaller groups (maybe 4-5, tops). They have their regular menu full of great choices, and their walls are decorated with art AND other food suggestions - i.e. 10 additional pancake options, or omelet choices at any given time. The pricing is cheap, CASH ONLY, and the atmosphere is a very friendly, family-like business. Enjoy coffee with cheap brunch? Great! Unlimited refills, and they come around quite frequently to make sure you have what you need. It's a very quaint restaurant, and the first time I went there I almost missed it, walking by. For a simple, sweet weekend brunch, this is perfection. After enjoying a big meal here, walk around JP and head over to the pond. When the weather is lovely it makes for a beautiful Saturday afternoon.
(5)
yoyo b.
Great pancakes but the rest of their menu is eh. Great service though. Very accommodating and kid-friendly.
(4)
Margarita S.
I came here at 12 noon on Sunday and waited outside to get seated for about 20 min. The host was really nice and smiley girl. I got a round table next to the window though i was alone. The first thing I realized that they accept only cash. OK, it is reasonable for such a small place. I ordered a Neptune Omelette. About 5 min later the waiter said they ran out of avocado and offered a guacamole which was fine with me. The omelette itself was good thought it didn't have a promised guacamole. Oh well. The service was fast and welcoming though. Good for a family brunch but don't expect too much from this place.
(3)
Stacy H.
if you love breakfast, you're going to come here. keep it simple silly: 1 CASH ONLY 2 literally dozens of omelette options with enough choices for you sweet teeth 3 vegetarian and vegan options galore: you can substitute anything for tofu or tempeh 4 coffee refills every 5 minutes? yes please (coffee is only decent though, so don't expect too much) 5 three different hot sauce options 6 not really good for big groups (ie 4+), since this is a smaller restaurant i had the neptune omelette, which was really fascinating and yummy: eggs with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, seaweed, topped with sprouts served with a side of home fries. yum! the spinach and seaweed meshed wonderfully, so that even someone like me who eats seaweed consistently didn't even recognize it until halfway through the omelette. definitely going to come back!
(4)
Natasha M.
Sadly, did not enjoy our takeout breakfast. I ordered the french toast special and was not impressed. Home fries were dry, french toast was soggy, and tofu was bland (substituted for meat selections). Service was friendly though and they do not accept cards, so we had to run to the ATM.
(2)
Nina H.
OMG someone roll me out of here!!! I can't seem to stay away. Every time I go I find something new to love. Omelets are divine. Pancakes are sinful. Price is perfect.
(4)
Robert C.
When I first walked into the place, I just knew I was in for an awesome breakfast experience based on their home-dining ambiance. This is your legit ma and pa, comfort breakfast food joint doing all the right things to make you to feel welcomed and out feeling more than satisfied ready to take on the day. Omelette options are plentiful and cater to everyone's needs, and light! Waffles and toppings of your choice for your sweet tooth. Bottomless coffee :) Can't go wrong
(4)
Yuka Y.
Sorella's is my favorite, no frills breakfast diner located in Jamaica Plains. About 10 minutes away from JP's ASPCA and literally across the street from Whole Foods. 50+ omelette options and the portions are always hearty. From pancakes to waffles, you are spoiled for choice here my friends. Amazing prices, ~$7 omelettes included with 2 pieces of toast. ++Recommend the Mexican omelette- the jalapeno peppers mixed with the melting cheese and salsa is great for my spicy fanatics. The owner with the Boston accent and the staff have always been sweet hearts. Martin's in Brookline used to be my favorite, but Sorella's is my new rave given that it's less claustrophobic. What makes a great diner is not only the food but also the atmosphere. I like my diners having this dated feel without the rushed service or the claustrophobic feels. I like my diners as a place where I can dress like shit, a place with the homey feels. The decor is charming. Stepping into Sorella's feels like a step back into the 80s. The walls are adorned with all sorts of knicknacks from certificates, colorful construction papers featuring hand written new menus, to a plaque of the state of Chicago. You can seriously play a game of "I Spy" with the things plastered along their turquoise-on-pink walls. All around a charming place, a Boston keepsake.
(5)
Carolyn P.
My husband and I enjoyed the atmosphere. We sat in the front with the doors open which was great with a cafe feel and our waitress Jess was very personable and great to talk to. We ordered appetizers for our first visit and the bacon wrapped steak was excellent along with the portobello mushroom and peppers. The owner came over to greet us and it was just a very nice relaxing experience. We will be back!
(5)
Ia J.
A solid 'meh' for the breakfast burrito. Can't speak to anything else on the menu.
(3)
Brian L.
Brags (+): Dependably good. I've only been there for brunch, but I always go there knowing get a satisfying meal. The menu is expansive, although it does seem like they just made a name for every conceivable permutation of their ingredients. The cornbread french toast is excellent, and every kind of omelet I've gotten has been nom-tastic. Beats (-): The food can be a little slow at times, and the setting isn't the most comfortable. I would bump it up to 5 stars if the environment was a bit more comfy/sleek. Variance (~): Unfortunately, every time I've been to Sorella's, they take us to the extension seating area, which is up through a separate entrance outside the main door. It just doesn't seem as nice as the main area, but the food is the same, ostensibly.
(4)
Casey W.
Very quaint restaurant owned by a helpful, local gentleman. We had a great breakfast and felt very welcome while we were there. Definitely plan on going back in the future
(5)
Mallory R.
At first glance, Sorella's seemed like a great place. I was charmed by the quaint decor and amazed at how huge the menu was. My two friends, one a carnivore and one a vegan, and I decided that we would always come here because everyone could find something they liked. However, as we examined the menu and the decor longer we started to fall out of love. Why are there FOUR sections devoted to omelets? You can choose from: Omelets, New Omelets, Exotic Omelets and Special Omelets. A section labeled Good Omelets would have probably been enough. This was on top of the other usual brunch fare such as breakfast burritos, crepes, pancakes and waffles. I've watched enough Kitchen Nightmares to know that a menu that is too large often means that the quality cannot be assured. It calls for too much product to be kept on hand, and for the kitchen staff to be pulled in too many directions. I ordered a fruit crepe, my vegan friend ordered the vegetarian hash with 2 scrambled eggs (don't judge, it's her life) and my other friend ordered a breakfast burrito. As we waited for our food we began to see the decor for what it really was: cheap. The room we were in had a bay window in the front that was sporting one lacy curtain on just one of the window panels. There was a lot of cheap art from Bed, Bath & Beyond and they hung identical paintings right across from each other. I honestly have no idea what kind of atmosphere they were trying to set here. It all just made me worried about what the back of the house (the kitchen) looked like. When we did receive our meals, our growing fears were addressed. Our plates we haphazardly thrown together. My vegan friends meal looked like a mess and she found bacon in her vegetarian hash. My crepe was completely uncooked and seemed to be held together with fluff. It was good, for what it was, but it wasn't what I was expecting. My other friends breakfast burrito was huge but nothing to write home about. We ended the meal with an agreement that we would go to City Feed and get some good coffee and snacks that would actually be worth our money. We decided ice cream sundaes were necessary as well. Overall, the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't feel good about the meal I had. It just seemed like a dirty restaurant. If they were to trim down their menu and clean up the place I think I would return but for now it's off my radar.
(1)
Alexa B.
I had the cornbread French toast. My goodness it was fantastic. The staff was friendly and everyone who walked in was treated with a smile. Despite being full everything showed up quickly and cooked perfectly!! Definitely worth a visit!
(5)
Joshua D.
I used to love this place, until I came here too often and saw their flaws. Here are the problems with Sorella's: They don't care about you, and when I say this I mean because they are usually so busy the service is lax and comes with a slight bit of superiority, like they don't need your business because business is booming. THe food they serves isn't always fresh, My friend has been served rotten raspberries before and they didn't seem to mind. They don't give you a receipt that anyone but the person who wrote it can read and when you ask for a readable written slip, they get real upset. The major problem is they don't care.
(1)
Lydia V.
I love this place! It's my favorite brunch place in Jamaica Plain! They specialize in exotic omelettes and savory crepes! Their freshly squeezed is amazingly addicting but expensive. It's small and cozy. Cash only!
(5)
Michael W.
As we walked in to this restaurant we were greeted from across the room with a loud bellowing "for two?" from a giant warrior-of-a-man behind the counter. We either nodded or perhaps we shook our heads vertically in terror, I can't really be sure. The gentle giant made his way to our table with a friendly "good morning!" and provided us with menus for which to plan our conquest. Miss Sarit got her usual eggs over-easy and home fries, I went a bit savage and got in touch with my Portuguese heritage and ordered the spicy Portuguese omelet. As it was laid upon me, I tilted my head back; challenge accepted. I laughed at the option of substituting ingredients for tofu or even tempeh. I readied my utensils of war and strategized a battle plan for attacking this Goliath of a foe. Shall I try a slingshot? Nah, that's been done in biblical times. A fork and a knife? Now there's a challenge worthy of my breakfast plate. As I cut in to my enemy, the spicy sausage and cheese split apart like sausage and cheese will when in the presence of greatness. As I sampled my enemy's defenses, I could not help but to savor the sweet sensation of chaotic dominance. Shall I go for the sausage? The cheese? The peppers? The jalapenos? Salsa? Home fries!? Go big or go home, or as we like to say in Portugal, "Go big-o or go el casa-o." I went for it all. I emerged victorious, and did mi familia proud. This plate is worthy of temptation. Give in to your indulgences and taste the suppleness of victory again and again. Revisit, and conquer a new dish; they have plenty to last you a lifetime. So many in fact, that they ran out of space on the menu and began listing them on the walls. Sorella's - Jamaica Plain, Boston's establishment of choice for the breakfast Conquistador within us all.
(4)
Natanya A.
They have a wide selection of food, but it's all kind of bland. I do like that they're very vegetarian and vegan friendly. Cash only.
(3)
Danielle R.
This place is truly family-friendly and delicious. Not only is the restaurant itself incredibly spacious (with ample seating available in their two dining rooms), but their menu is also so lengthy that everyone is sure to find something they'll enjoy for breakfast/brunch. We ordered the two omelette specials, the Romeo and Juliet, and thought they were both terrific. I've never seen a larger omelette selection anywhere in Boston. We also ordered the Greek French Toast, which was a recommendation by our waiter. It was also very good; the bread was similar to challah which is classically known to be great for french toast. Minus one star because the service can be slow and the restaurant itself is slightly off the beaten path. Definitely a cute spot to seek out, though!
(4)
Cassie C.
We really wanted to like this place, but they just dropped the ball too many times. We put our name in, only to have multiple parties called before we finally went in to ask (including a party called multiple times) - our name had gotten crossed off. We finally got to sit and then it took a bit to get our order in. After that, things mostly improved - server was cool, pancakes and cornbread french toast were very tasty. The savory was good but nothing extraordinary. Overall, it just seemed pretty disorganized.
(3)
Bruce R.
This place made me think, "this is what you would get if you let a bunch of children play restaurant with a real restaurant." I would call it quirky and amusing if there weren't so many flaws Starting with the horrible coffee. You can get better java at 7-11 than that swill. Obviously they are cutting corners by using the bare minimum grounds, just enough to get the water to change color. A ludicrous, overblown and repetitious menu. 8 solid pages of small print basically repeating over and over small variations of the same dishes. YOU CANT CRISP THE %#&*@^& BACON??? HOW DO YOU SCREW UP BACON!!! So yeah, shitty bacon. Not just poorly cooked, it was really cheap, low quality thin bacon that was a flabby, anemic disappointment. Home fries were so-so. Omelet was thrown together very carelessly. Mushrooms were the featured ingredient, and there was exactly ONE sliver of mushroom in that omelet. "Specials" written in highlighter taped to EVERY wall. To read them, you would have to wander around between tables and lean over some poor diner to read them. There were no less than 20 "specials" taped up all over. When you have like, 200 items in your menu (not exaggerating) you need this too? Also, the place has two dining areas with different entrances, so you can't even get to whatever culinary nightmares are taped to the walls on the other side. Probably for the best really... Zero ambiance. White walls and lots of handwritten "specials" taped all over the place. Brusque, bordering on surly waitstaff. One positive; the price is reasonable for a large breakfast. It would be more reasonable if the food was any good.
(2)
Kayla B.
My cousin and I were looking for a good breakfast spot last minute on a Saturday morning. so of course I go to my trusty yelp app and realize I have this place bookmarked. I know how people get with breakfast on the weekends so I called ahead to see if there was a wait. When the waitress shortly said "no" and hung up I was thrown off but I still wanted to try sorellas. When we got there it was kind of confusing to find but we eventually found the steps upstairs to the restaurant. It's a really interesting vibe. It's basically an apartment turned restaurant. The menu is fantastic though!!! There are pages and pages of options from sweet to savory. I find that most breakfast places really focus on one or the other, so to see so many creative options for both palates was dope. I have a sweet tooth so I went with the cornbread French toast. And OMG. The cornbread is so moist soft and flavorful I didn't even put syrup on it. The whipped cream and strawberries were enough. My cousin had the Scott's Special I believe it's called. The 3 eggs, home fries, bacon, and toast. Boring, but she had no complaints and she is a picky eater. The staff was very nice and I will definitely be back there soon. It's cash only though which sucks because I never carry cash
(4)
Mk E.
Sorella's is the best place to get breakfast in JP. Possibly anywhere. (I dunno, I guess there are a couple other continents? I haven't visited them all.) Everything is delicious, the menu is huge, and the prices are as right as they get, particularly if you make it in time for an early bird special. I recommend the raspberry butterscotch pancakes, and I don't even LIKE pancakes. Plan ahead on the weekends, as the place gets packed (though they do open up the second dining room).
(5)
Leesha Z.
We stumbled upon Sorella's on a late Sunday morning expecting there to be a wait. We walked in and to our surprise, there was plenty of seating. Sorella's looks more like you've just wandered in to your grandmother's house. The decor isn't all too great. Mismatched and bland. I could care less though, I was there for the food. The menu itself is massive. So much to choose from! After about 5 minutes, I decided to order the breakfast burrito and my boyfriend got the cornbread french toast special. My burrito was massive. I could only get through about half before tapping out. The flavors were good but there was a little too much cilantro for my taste. The cornbread french toast however was out of this world. It was fresh, moist and it came with the most delectable home made whipped cream on top which I could've just eaten that alone. Huge portion again. All of this came to about $25 with two fresh squeezed OJ's on the side. Not bad at all. I'll come here again for sure to try maybe their crepes!
(4)
Andrea L.
I would eat here all the time if I could! So many choices and everything that was served looked delicious, as were my ginger, blueberry, hazelnut pancakes. Owner omnipresent and helpful. Great neighborhood legacy business in a sea of newcomers to JP.
(4)
cath e.
Kind helpful w children Homey not fancy( who cares?) Quick service when it's not mobbed All kinds of choices for omelets and spicy choices for hot stuff people Locals are very happy here
(4)
Ross L.
One of those places that's instantly familiar and where you feel instantly at home. At the entrance there's news articles praising the pancakes along with Zagat ratings too. The plain old regular pancakes were some of the best I've ever had and there's a ton of fancier varieties to chose from too. Egg was scrambled perfectly. The prices and portions are also extremely reasonable.
(5)
Yvens G.
Not impressed... no care was put into mt breakfast. Best part was finding what seems to be a eyelash in my food. ...and in the 2014 they do not accept credit/debit cards.
(1)
Nikki C.
Atmosphere was EXTREMELY loud. I has to yell at my friend sitting across from me. Service was slow and poor. The menu reads like a book. I was overwhelmed. Food is ok. Not high quality or inspired, but ok. Not stuff you can't get anywhere else. I got the steak tips and eggs (poached). The steak tips were dry, chewy and not cooked how I specified(medium), well done. They appeared to be precooked, then seared, they were luke warm. Home fries portion was skimpy and potatoes were not cooked fully, still mealy and a little hard. My poached eggs were also well done and not properly poached, both yolks were solid (disappointing). My poached eggs were also put on top of my toast, making the toast soggy. The coffee was also terrible. It tasted a bit like soil. I ate with other people and we were unable to read the hand written reciept we were given, other than the total in black sharpie. A friend, who coincidentally arrived at the restaurant for brunch 15 minutes later, boasted her meal's and home frie's superiority was due to the fact she was a regular. That doesn't rub me the right way. I'll go back if someone else insists, but I wouldn't make the effort myself.
(2)
Anthony L.
(Breakfast review) Before going to Sorella's, do yourself a favor and tap into your cravings before you go in. The menu is daunting, but in a great way. It's *HUGE* and there are other random choices that are scattered on the walls. Seriously, huge. My experience very much reminded me of Seinfeld's "The Soup Nazi"... when my waiter (a really nice tall/large man) came over, I felt the urge to say, with a straight face, "PUMPKIN PANCAKE - COFFEE - WATER - SYRUP" without even saying "please, thank you, and may I have." Whatever, it's their culture and I need to adapt. The portions are large and the food is, wait for it, amazing. Everything is reasonably priced, which brings me to the next thing, it's cash only... bring your cash.
(4)
Alex J.
Went for brunch this weekend and immediately regretted it. Staff was clearly overwhelmed, so we got bad food and worse service. The polenta dish I ordered was bland and poorly conceived, and the banana walnut french toast was an offense to the very idea. It was more like pieces of dense banana bread thrown on a griddle. Took an hour to get a refill on my tiny cup of coffee. Don't waste your time.
(1)
Ad P.
Wonderful neighborhood gem. Come with an empty belly, leave with a full one and your taste buds satisfied. Try fhe Texas French Toast, pumpkin walnut pancakes, and the Neptune Omelet (among the 9 million options...)! Tip: go early; cash only as of 2014.
(5)
Dan G.
I can't believe I haven't written about Sorella's yet! Been coming here off and on for the past few months and I love it. Good luck finding parking though if you decide to come during peak times. The downstairs room can get REALLY hot as it is very small and a little too cozy. The wait staff are always amazingly friendly and full of love, I love them! The food is delicious and huge, plus they have a ton of very creative omelets to choose from! Or make your own. One thing that makes me sad...they always forget part of my order :( and are usually so busy that they still forget it :( :(
(4)
Hannah R.
In my mind, there are three downsides to Sorella's: 1) it's cash only, and 2) they don't serve bloody marys, and 3) there must be 100 menu items at least--so hard to choose! I lived down the street for awhile, and I ate here nearly every weekend. Someone mentioned in their review how fun it is to see OKCupid morning after dates happening there--I can attest that it is a great game to play spot the awkward. The food is always filling, and even if you ordered the same thing every time, it would probably be different with each order. The variety and creativity of the ingredients is truly amazing, and no one would ever expect it to judge this place from the outside. I highly recommend the Neptune omelet. It has seaweed salad in it!
(4)
Yelena Y.
I think this place is over rated. Staff is incredibly friendly bit the food was bland and boring.
(3)
Joseph Z.
Terrible service and very mediocre food. We were not told the hours and then rudely rushed in and out. Looked like a quaint family place with interesting and appetizing menu items that turned out to be a major disappointment. Avoid this place if you can.
(1)
Adria R.
I'd give this place 2.5 stars if I could. Not great, not horrible. I really wanted to like it, because I love non-fancy/non-trendy diners and this is definitely neither. I also like a little quirk, which this place had. I didn't mind the weird/random decor and the menu was certainly an entertaining read. The good: We were able to be seated right away at 11am on a Sunday. The wait staff was prompt, if not particularly friendly. There is no lack of menu items, quite the contrary. If you stick to the basics, eggs, toast, etc. you'll probably be satisfied. The bad: -They only accept cash. -The coffee was horrible. Poor flavor and so weak that when the server came to refill I held off (which I never do), because the coffee was the color of strong tea. -The menu is too large. This isn't always a bad thing, but there must be some organization to the menu items (rather than dishes comprised of randomly thrown together ingredients). And the list of ingredients they have to keep on hand is so extensive that I would question the quality and whether they even have a kitchen/pantry big enough to safely accommodate it all. -The food was mediocre at best. My omelette was missing the avocado it should have had in it, and my husband's omelette was about twice the size of mine with the same amount of ingredients. Both omelette's had a HUGE pile of chopped RAW garlic in them. I love garlic, but this was So. Much. Raw. I'm still tasting it near bedtime. The bacon was undercooked, and the home fries were unevenly cut and mushy. All this said, if I lived nearby and didn't have to go out of the way, I'd probably go back. Maybe I'm a glutton for breakfast that I don't have to make myself!
(2)
SR F.
Several years ago my wife and I went to Sorella's and hated it.. wanting to stay local today, we decided to give it another try. What a pleasant surprise.. move over Mike's and Victoria's ( Center St Cafe is now closed). We arrived just before the kitchen closing hour, but my finger wagging wife prevailed and they were kind enough to accommodate us. ( We had called and seating is open until 1:30, nonetheless). Shared a great Denver omelet, fresh squeezed oj, has browns close to perfection, homemade muffin, real butter ( all was very good and the muffin was great!) Two faults: better coffee, and for me the perfect breakfast place has to have homemade corned beef for the hash and bathroom was unkempt; ergo the 4 stars. We will be going back.. menu was varied with creative selections, too late today for the specials ( corn bread french toast??!!) ummmm picky ones ~
(4)
Karen R.
To quote my friend: "This place is so JP that it almost hurts." And she would be absolutely right. I was super impressed by the extensive omelette menu (which included many vegetarian options). I ultimately settled on an omelette that had capers in it (yum!). Service was generally pleasant and efficient. I deducted 1 star for two reasons: It drives me crazy when places are cash only and the interior was a little confusing (we definitely entered through the wrong door). Overall, I'm looking forward to making a return trip.
(4)
Margaret N.
We went to Sorellas yesterday for a late morning breakfast and had one of the most disappointing dining experiences I have ever had. Our waitress was obviously "in the weeds", eventually (after at least 15 minutes) a guy came over and took our order. We asked for refills on our coffees (when we left 60 minutes later we had still not received the coffee we continued to ask for). When breakfast arrived 3 out of 4 at our table were served, no mention was made of whether mine was on it's was. The maple syrup we ordered (and paid for) also never arrived for anyone's order. I eventually (at least 5 minutes later) asked if my meal was coming- the guy went to check, came back and said it would be another 3 minutes. After 5 minutes he came and delivered an unordered (and unwanted) bowl of fruit to tide me over until the pancakes were ready. This fruit had quite obviously been removed from another table, there was butter on the orange slices and was just a disgusting offering. 10 minutes later he delivered my pancakes in a take out box, we had mentioned that we were running late and he took it upon himself to assume I would prefer to eat my pancakes in the car???? He dropped our check, they are handwritten and completely illegible (probably why the kitchen never got my order in the first place)- he told us we had not been charged for my breakfast however when we did the math it was quite obvious that we had been (along w/ $6 of maple syrup that we never received). Because we were in fact in a hurry we just paid and left (leaving the now unwanted to go pancakes). While I can certainly understand honest mistakes this was probably the worst string of events that I've ever experienced in a single meal. Throughout the entire process neither our waitress or the guy who had continued dealing w/ us were remotely apologetic or helpful. We will never go back to this sorry excuse for a restaurant.
(1)
John S.
Dude, who designed the menu for this place? It's longer than those receipts you get at Shaw's that come with like 70 coupons for shit you don't need! Actually, in some ways, the menu actually reminds me of those receipts. The people who have served me at this place have always been friendly...even when I have to ask for help navigating like 20 food items that are all labeled 'funky.' It all looks good, so I always go with whatever tell me to eat. If you don't feel like warming your server up in order to get high end food, bring your overly social / enthusiastic friend(s)! That's what I do. I met the Big Guy who worked there for 15 years...he's still working there. He told me a legend of a time not so long ago when JP wasn't filled with aging hippies and baby boomers and whatnot. He said it was rad and that the crowd at Sorella's was actually cool. It made me feel like I was in on the whole thing - part of the cool table just for acting like I was interested! It was an unmistakable feeling of superiority that took over my stomach and mind, but coated in so much reminiscence that it was difficult to digest... Anyway, my food was pretty good, too, and at an acceptable (if not particularly amazing) price point. So why is it that I don't totally want to go back? Maybe I just get the feeling that this place is Past Its Prime like so many of its patrons? Maybe I don't need that level of nostalgia with my breakfast? Maybe I'll stop back in a year or so, sooner if the other places in the area go out of business. I really can't be bothered to go back sooner.
(3)
Sarah H.
I really like Sorella's, but I don't have high expectations for them (does that even make sense?). The food I've ordered has been great every time, but I've experienced friends or people sitting around me who had orders that tasted terrible or contained things that shouldn't have been in there. The staff are very unfriendly (don't expect any smiles or politeness) but I'm able to look past it as long as they aren't downright rude. The receipt is NEVER legible, and don't even bother asking them for one that's clearly written (or you'll get attitude). I usually have to ask them to clarify what exactly I'm being charged for to make sure I'm not being overcharged. The food itself is really good as far as I'm concerned, which is what keeps me coming back. And they have TON of choices! Also, they rarely do substitutions, so if you're a picky eater I wouldn't recommend this place.
(3)
Lily B.
Wow, what a disappointment. My friend and I met up at Sorella's for breakfast on a Saturday morning. First, we ended up in the "no waitress" zone and had to plead for someone to take our order after 15 minutes of no attention. I ordered a breakfast burrito - that should easy, right? Instead I got a eggs mixed with sliced tomatoes (sliced? in a burrito?) which were cold with other vegetables that were also cold. And the burrito was folded as if a 3-year old did it and was stale. To top it off, my friend's sunny-side up eggs were delivered with the yolks broken - huh? Sub par food, sub par service, super sub par experience. What a shame.
(1)
Jessie S.
I came here with my buddy for lunch and was not disappointed! I ordered a sandwich from the front of the menu, it had no name but consisted of egg, tomato, avacado, "hoomus," pepper, an unlabeled cheese and other stuff I can't recall. There might have been sprouts? Anyway it was delicious - while the ingredients were nothing special in name they were of impeccable quality, you could taste how fresh everything was and the flavors complimented eachother wonderfully. My vegetarian compatriot asked for a menu item with no meat and our server immediately offered to replace it with tofu or tempeh which I thought was kind of amazingly considerate. Good simple food done well with delightful staff. I'd return here!
(4)
Gillian W.
I feel like some of these reviews must be talking about a completely different restaurant than the one I visited today. Sorella's is brightly decorated in a sort of Mom's kitchen way that I found very inviting and comfortable. The gentleman serving the dining area was attentive and friendly. The banana chocolate chip pancakes were the best pancakes I have ever had! They were somehow crispy on the outside and cake-like on the inside! My boyfriend also enjoyed the Chicago omelette. For a person who rarely takes a moment to observe their food before inhaling it, even HE had to note that the vegetables were perfectly cooked. I did not have any of the "brown water" coffee that everyone on here is whining about but I cannot imagine it would be anything offensive enough to lower my rating. We will definitely return :)
(5)
Emily M.
This is a fun place to get breakfast! There is a huge menu with a lot of unusual choices (butterscotch raspberry pancakes was my most recent breakfast there). Don't forget to check out their choices all over the wall! There are a lot of good ones up that aren't on the menu! Their irish breakfast being a good example (this breakfast takes up four plates). The only thing I would say to stay away from is their crepes. There are many options that sound good, but the crepes themselves always have a weird chalky dry taste. Every other meal I've had here I've loved. Don't forget to bring cash!
(4)
Laura A.
this review is for their omelette's and toast. the omelettes are original, FULL of awesome fillings (e.g., goat cheese, pine nuts, sprouts), and there are so many choices that it's hard to go wrong. coffee is sweet to order, lil' mugs with lil' cups of cream. prices are good. service is ok...did i mention prices are good? yum.
(4)
Jeff O.
Been coming here for a few years now. The food is always quick and tasty. You might find yourself waiting outside for a table on a busy saturday, so pick a warm day to go. The menu is filled w/ crazy options most of which are time tested. I am a big fan of any of the pancake / french toast options on the menu. Sometimes the omelets can be a little too crazy for me.
(4)
Jessica F.
Dear Sorellas - I have worked in restaurants since I was 15 (8 years). I get it - it's a Monday-holiday brunch and you don't have more than 2 people on the floor. I'm not expecting speed or attention - barely even friendliness. What I did expect this morning was a pancake WITHOUT plastic wrap in it that I almost choked on. Even then, not that bad, because things happen, but I expected an apology when I pointed it out! I expected the replacement pancake to have chocolate chips in it like the original order, but neither of those things happend. I didn't want sass when I asked for a fork after you took my first one. I don't care that you're cash only and don't use computers, but when I ask for a legible receipt so I could ensure that you weren't actually charging me $4 for that SINGLE pancake (you were), don't give me even more attitude. This isn't the only time I've had trouble at Sorella's. Impossible with substitutions (if you're going for the vegetarian special you HAVE to get multi-grain pancakes when the Big Guy's aunt/mom is working - obviously all vegetarians are HEALTHY), moldy fruit on the waffles, and inattention to food allergies. Additionally, potato hashbrowns have cheap seasoning and are rarely cooked through, the coffee is more expensive than something that you can find elsewhere in JP that is either organic and/or fairtrade, and you charge 1.25 for anything other than American cheese. I've overlooked all the above things for years because I like to solicit small family restaurants, but after today, never again. Enjoy that exuberant tip we left you despite all of this bologna because it isn't your poor server's fault that you never have more people on, but I will pay twice your outrageous prices at Centre Street or City Feed from now on.
(2)
Christine V.
Best breakfast place in JP! You have to go at least once. They only accept cash and have been in business for 30 years. The nicest people work here. The food is homemade and delicious.
(5)
Peter G.
Sorella's is a great little restaurant to come for breakfast in JP. The selling point here is the range of the menu options: there is nearly an overwhelming amount of quality breakfast choices. We enjoyed the Eggs Rockefellar and a steak omelet: both were delicious and obviously hand-made with fresh ingredients. Surprisingly, I thought the food quality exceeded the price they were charging for it. The restaurant has a strong following, so be prepared for a wait during peak hours. Downsides: namely the size, especially downstairs. It can get cramped, and it's unfortunate that so many people enter via the downstairs, providing a constant draft during the winter and standing very close to sitting patrons. Although we walked, I didn't see much in the way of parking besides the street. Also, not accepting plastic is inconvenient. All things being equal, Sorella's gives arguably the best value of casual breakfast in downtown JP - you can't go wrong with this menu. However, despite the food quality, the price is indicative of the restaurant's drawbacks. If they only had more space, this would be a solid 4.
(3)
T C.
We've lived in JP for 10 years and go to Sorella's a few times a year. It's usually a quirky, tasty, and reliable place. Not fancy by any means. This morning, was really gross and disturbing. Two of our meals (both involving eggs) had hair in them. And then when we tasted the pancakes and waffles that we ordered, they tasted really foul: sour and not fully cooked, perhaps spoiled. We told the waiter and he seemed unconcerned. We encouraged him to have someone taste something made with the batter so that they wouldn't serve anything made with it to anyone else. He didn't really respond. At least they took the cost of those items off the bill. And all of the food was served cold. It's wasn't very busy. My hash was also super soggy. But we won't be back, ever.
(1)
Allison B.
I had been looking forward to trying this place for a few weeks, sadly - wasn't even given the chance to do so! I stopped by on a Saturday to be greetly rudely by what I can only assume was a waitress. She quickly yelled out to me and my boyfriend that we had to go "3 doors down." I was taken a back as there were FOUR empty tables and turned to see what my boyfriend wanted to do. Before I could even asked, she yelled once more at use. Needless to say, we left and didn't "go three doors down." Very disappointed and would NEVER try this place again.
(1)
Cagen L.
The idea of Sorellas is great. Reasonably priced creative dishes with great ingredients. Unfortunately something is lost in the execution. The food comes out quickly but there is little to no pride taken I'm the preparation. Its like some one who loves food designed the menu and then it is cooked by interns. If you need a quick breakfast and don't care how it tastes this is the place for you other wise steer clear.
(1)
Nicole C.
This was one of the worst breakfast I've ever eaten. From the moment we sat down and brown swill water was placed in front of us, I should have known that we should leave. For one thing, despite the plethora of vegetarian and vegan options, the potatoes tasted like they had been in bacon grease. I didn't mind (since they were otherwise entirely flavorless) but the vegans in my group were displeased. I ordered the Acapulco polenta dish, which I was quite excited about. I expected it to be flavorful and fresh tasting (swill water aside). Instead, I was given bland polenta with no sign of the advertized jalapeno peppers. The guacamole tasted like diapers and (bizarrely) it was topped with broccoli, bland mozzarella cheese, and marinara sauce that had clearly just been opened and poured on top. Umm....what? It was disgusting. The others at my time didn't fare much better, although my partner's pancakes were decent. The horrible food aside, the service was ridiculous. The restaurant seems to be severely understaffed so the staff takes an intensely focused approach to managing everyone's needs. What these actually means is that bring you disgusting coffee (which they'll only refill once before charging you for a second cup) and then they ignore you for 25 minutes while they deal with other tables. Then they descend on you, brusquely demand your order, and bring your food out quickly since, you know, they just open up some cans and jars. The restaurant itself would possibly be charming if it weren't so dirty. The decor is a mix of Christmas bow, fake flowers, and "art" that looks as it it were taken from a Holiday Inn. I used the restroom (meh) and got a glimpse into the "cleaning closet". It was covered in a thick layer of grime and general filth. In retrospect, I realize that I didn't see a health score posted anywhere. Yes, it was cheap, but then I spent more money on decent coffee and a snack to get replace the awful taste in my mouth. Never. Again.
(1)
mzamar x.
Another of the "am I missing something?" group. The food here is just sort of unspectacular and sometimes downright not good greasy spoon kind of affair. Also, as a bonus, I often feel nauseous when I leave. Like, are they washing the glasses out? Why are people so into this place? In a word, no.
(2)
Fernanda P.
Great food! Loved the Toni's omelet. Live in JP and will definitely come back
(4)
Katrina F.
There is nowhere else in the world where I can find cranberry walnut pumpkin french toast with sour cream topping, gingerbread french toast, or raspberry banana pancakes. I could eat breakfast there every day. The service is prompt, although I don't know if I recommend the coffee. Sorella's was featured on the food channel for their variety of french toasts (freshly baked and turned into toast) and they are my favorite restaurant in all of Boston. My husband really enjoys the omelettes as well. They come chock-full of tasty ingredients.
(5)
Lee Q.
What is wrong with you all?! Sorella's is HANDS DOWN the worst place I've ever been to. Went with two friends one morning because its a short walk from where e stayed. One friend, who was playing host to us, wanted us, but we went anyway thinking he was exaggerating. NOPE! Food was bland and just not good. Our waiter was terribly disinterested and rather unpleasant. My friend ordered a side of turkey sausage with her food. Shorty after it arrived, the waiter returned and said, "I'm sorry but two of those sausages were for another customer, I have to take those back." Um, EXCUSE ME? You're really going take food that was already being eaten and give it to another guest? To add insult to injury, as he walked away from us, he flashed us his ass from the giant hole in his back pocket. I made sure to tip well because when restaurants are like that, it means management treats their workers like shit. Hopefully their manager didn't pocket those tips either.
(1)
J K.
There are many things that rule about Sorella's: 1. The amazing woman on the first floor that is just so awesome. 2. The banana chocolate chip pancakes. 3. The sausage and egg sandwich on an everything bagel OH GOD YES 4. THE MAPS ON EACH TABLE. I like the juxtaposition of Chicago as a country next to Argentina. 5. The coffee that always seems to incite a panic attack after I have more than one cup. 6. How quickly the food arrives! 7. All of the okcupid morning after breakfast dates. AWESOME. Cash only! Bring cash dollars.
(4)
Philip T.
We really liked this place. Great breakfast good friendly service. You could spend a month just trying out the omeletes!
(5)
Raya M.
I'm gonna give this place negative 100 if I could. I live up the street and regularly walked by, so my bf and I decided to give it a try. Service was mediocre, but we didn't expect too much from a busy bfast place. But, we were super disappointed when out food arrived in dishes that looked link were never washed from the previous use. My Romeos omelette was gross to say the least. The avocado was straight up rotting and the rest of the ingredients were mashed together and not seasoned at all. I has about 2 bites and had to stop cause it felt like I mate get good poisoning. My bf got one of the bfast burritos. He ordered the one with chicken, but got beef instead. The beef tasted like dog food, his words, not mine. No one asked us how our food was? So we didn't bother share it. But I can honestly say that this is the worst place I've been to in my life. Don't go there, not worth your money!!!
(1)
Clare M.
We love this place! I can't believe that it doesn't have 5 stars! The oatmeal pancakes (or oatmeal chocolate chips if your chocalately inclined) are absolutely delish, the service is friendly, the menu offers endless options (or so it seems) and its waaaay better value than that other place further down center st...and usually, if you hit it just right, you don't have to wait for a table like you do at that other place. Every time we have guests, this is where we take them. Yummy, homey, and a great place to start your weekend...or any day of the week actually.
(5)
Jen B.
I have been coming here, on and off, for more than 20 years. I am vegetarian and it is super easy to eat here. The eggs are just right, the potatoes are not over cooked over oiled or over spiced- delicious! My personal favorite: pumpkin,walnut and cranberry pancakes- can't beat them. Fresh squeezed OJ is great. Almost any eater can have a delicious breakfast at a reasonable price in a casual, quaint environment with friendly staff.
(5)
Terra N.
It's totally small downstairs and the tables are pretty close together. I like cozy restaurants because it's kinda like we're having a fun gathering with strangers and wanting to steal their food cause it looks so yummy. The decor is questionable and kinda tacky in my opinion, but at the same time very unique and shows the character of the owners. I really hate fake flowers in vases; I'd rather have fresh flowers or clutter-free. I ended up enjoying the Crepe del la Susanna? Which 5 minutes later, they realized they did not have goat cheese which made me sad, but I'm not a fussy twat like some people and just substituted feta. Also got a side of tamarind, garlic, spinach tempeh which was okay. I was expecting more flavor. The refills on coffee were pretty much every five minutes which is nice because the cute coffee cups were clearly being reused which I love. As a server, I was sad that they staggered on bringing out the meals (not proper restaurant etiquette) but it's understandable because breakfast food can cool fast, so you want it out right away. I got my meal last and it was okay. The feta cheese was in huge chunks but I loved the avocado, tomato, red peppers, spinach, and yummy walnut sauce that it came with. There was a hint of either paprika or mystery spice which added a nice smokey flavor. The homefries it came with was meh. Had a bite of other people's pancakes, and they were good. Actually I kind of have an upset tummy right now. TMI? :( I almost forgot to mention that they gave us complimentary fruit plate which was really nice of them, and we just ordered a couple of minutes earlier than that. Might come back again, but there are other places that are much closer to where I live and frequent that I'd rather go to. I'm not being fair because I ultimately wanted to go to Paris Creperie in Coolidge Corner but caved to majority. Everyone else pretty much cleaned their plate which is good, but now I feel like a picky eater. The server was really nice and outgoing and he was most definitely patient with us who were new to the 9 page menu and specials.
(3)
L. S.
I've been here a few times, and while it's not the best brunch place in Boston, I haven't found a better cheap place in Jamaica Plain. I've always been happy with their pancakes, and my friends are a big fan of their french toast and the gingerbread pancakes. The home fries are inconsistent, and I can't comment on their eggs, since I really don't like breakfast eggs. It is rather cramped, and is usually very busy during brunch hours, but it's not intolerable. The service varies from excellent to mediocre, depending on the server and the day. If you have a hankering for pancakes and don't want to shell out $15 for brunch at some fancy place, Sorella's is an excellent choice! Just remember to bring cash, as they don't accept credit cards.
(4)
Chris M.
Definitely feels like an average diner - no mistaking that. What's above average is the menu. They're a diner that cares about serving you something different, something better than your sausage and eggs or whatever. Not sure the quality of each of their ingredients but it seems like they know what they're doing. They are also more than happy to accommodate vegans such as myself with tofu and knowing to leave out delicious things like cheese. Their breakfast burritos are huge and their hot sauce is hot. (but not too hot) Their OJ is the perfect thing to suck down in the morning. Their coffee was burnt tasting and not too fresh, but I let it slide because it's a diner and I hadn't gotten much sleep that night. I would come back. It would take me quite a few visits to try the whole menu...
(4)
Howe L.
I dont mind the bare-bones, homy charm of this place. But the food is merely average, if that. However, extra star for the not so average selection and portion sizes.
(3)
Jason S.
Food is quick, decent, too many choices, friendly inside staff. Unfortunately your first interaction is with an older lady outside who takes your name. She was really weird asking to keep someone dog, throwing her candy wrappers on the street. Couldn't be a worse "face" to your business for those who never been yet inside.
(3)
Karen L.
We had a really bad brunch here this morning. I went with 3 friends, two of whom had the Neptune omelet, which seemed crazy (although they liked it). I had the Cha-Cha omelet--a Tex-Mex style thing made severely mediocre by below-average ingredients (canned black olives, cruddy salsa), possibly the worst "home fries" I've ever had (boiled potatoes partially rewarmed and sprinkled with paprika), and wheat toast that resembled cardboard more than food. My friend had what was theoretically homemade corned beef hash that, tragically, smelled and tasted like canned hash (at best) vs. Alpo (at worst). We unenthusiastically took a few bites of the egg nog "French Toast," which is basically dry cake crusted with some fried egg and covered with canned apple pie filling and whipped cream. Apparently, sprinkle of cinnamon = egg nog. The one positive was the plentiful (if otherwise average) coffee. Perhaps the impatient, crusty service is part of the charm for some people, but to my mind, it just completed the "we don't give a fuck about you or your fucking breakfast" picture. I was told by the Neptune-eating friends that prior experiences at this joint were better. However, after today's breakfast, I cannot for the life of me understand the appeal of this place, or why anyone would come here more than once.
(1)
Basile T.
If you like a big menu, you're in the right place! They pretty much have every type of omelette you can think of. I personally think the menu is too big, and the food is very good for a diner-like place. Definitely try it out.
(4)
Lynette S.
How sad that the big guy who always seems to be there had a tantrum when i asked him something. he tried to intimidate and embarass us and it did not work. I did not think it was good that he referred to the waitress as "the spanish girl" and and qccused us of not having enough money to pay the bill. (entirely untrue!) he needs to get a life. Result = not going back!
(1)
Gray S.
I recently moved to a place about three blocks away from Sorella's. I had been there maybe four years ago and had a positive experience so I was excited to have a cute little breakfast joint near at hand. My repeat visit was sadly lacking. 1) My friend was served spoiled milk for which they were not very apologetic. Honestly this is forgivable, It was in a little seal bottle so this probably wasn't their fault. Still, gross. 2)My friend ordered eggs Benedict, which comes with three eggs. He was only served two, which he didn't notice until he was just about finished eating everything and someone from the kitchen came out with a poached egg in a bowl and handed it to him telling him that they had forgotten an egg. Ok, weird but again forgivable. 3) Ok, so my actual complaint. I ordered their home made blueberry bread french toast. Yum right? Bread with blueberries in it, I've never even seen that, how novel! Except this isn't blueberry bread, it's "blueberry bread", You know that tea bread that's not bread at all, it's like a muffin or cake incognito as bread? Yeah so the french toast is really that, three huge slices of very sweet cake, dipped a tiny bit in eggs, and warm. It's not bad blueberry bread, but it's not french toast and three slices of the stuff is way more cake than anyone should have for breakfast. Also I splurged and ordered mine with real maple syrup, I was excited they had it, I hate that fake stuff. However I would have to be a masochistic diabetic or a 5 year old child to put it on top of the already very sweet cake I was served. The place has a greasy spoon atmosphere at best and the prices aren't great enough to excuse it. They have a huge menu, which is kind of paralyzing to consider in the early am, but offers a lot of options. They had a $6 minimum per person, so don't bring your not so hungry friend in for a cup of coffee and an English muffin. All this said, I will probably be back to give them another chance since they are so close by. I will get an omelet next time and I will let you know how it goes.
(2)
Erica B.
Sad. When I first moved to JP, almost 12 years ago, I really enjoyed Sorella's. Yes, the coffee was bad, but it was a reliable, kid-friendly option that served reasonable food and was very vegetarian friendly. But over time it has become terrible. I don't mind the sometimes surly service (only the big guy is good), or the unnecessarily long menu. But the food and hygiene have reached a low that is repulsive. Nothing's fresh or generous anymore. The final straw for me was when I went in there with my nephews (little boys) and had to take one if them to the bathroom (which is filthy and basically in the kitchen) and I got a good look at the cramped and downright dirty, disorganized kitchen. Then we were served pancakes made from spoilt batter! When we sent them back, the Big Guy didn't apologize, just made an excuse. didn't offer to remake them or bring something else. Moments later we found red hairs in one of the kid's eggs. They don't serve real syrup except at an up charge, no vegetables in food anymore... I could've handled it. But rotten batter and hairs and a filthy bathroom in the kitchen? Never again. Nasty.
(1)
Gary L.
This place is pretty spacious, with three different rooms, one on the bottom floor (looks dark and smokey), and the other two on the first floor (bright and clear). The menu is large, including pancakes, muffins and omelette's, and all the American classics. Now, the omelet section is divided into FOUR sections. First I was impressed. However after reading further, I realized that the ingredients were all the same, but shuffled in different combinations. I looked for a omelet with meat, and most are vegetarians. (What?) I settled for the Chicago omelet, with spinash and bacon. Came with tasty potatoes and toasts. Everyone seems to be pretty happy with the breakfast. I guess this place is not into meat...?
(4)
Allison J.
Good service good food. We loved our waiter, Vinnie. I love the handwritten menu items on pieces of paper taped to the wall. But it's hella confusing and the menu is giant. Very cute place with great service. Characters... they're all characters. Love it. Portions were generous and the pancake assortment dizzying. Not the place to come to if you're on a diet.
(4)
Julia C.
I found this place to be unremarkable. To me, every item on the omelet menu seems to be a smorgasbord of random vegetables, with similar ingredients mentioned in different orders for different dishes, but named differently. Also, there weren't enough omelets that involved meat -- a big negative for me. I'm sure I could've customized an omelet to have meat in it, but I don't like hassling waitstaff with modifications, plus I like having plenty of meat-incorporated options already laid out and described in juicy details on the menu page. The place seemed to be a hit with the vegetarians in the group I went with, but alfalfa sprouts need to stay the heck OUT of my breakfast omelets.
(2)
Meg C.
If you like grumpy people serving you great omelets and pancakes, I have a place for you. Sure, this is not the place to go when you want to be coddled, but it is great for cheap, comforting food. The menu is huge and I kind of wonder who would order half the mixtures offered. First things first, you have to ask for the real maple syrup. I noticed that the regulars asked for it up front, they didn't even wait for the fake crap to show up at the table. We started with a muffin, grilled of course. I believe it was mango and ginger, the flavors were not overbearing. It was really, reeeeally good. Not too sweet or dry. I split banana pancakes and a denver omelet with my cousin. The pancakes were divine with the real syrup. I'm super picky about pancakes and almost never order them at restaurants, but these were great. Nice and fluffy, not tough at all. They came with bananas in the batter as well as fresh slices on top. I want to try the gingerbread next time, they sound heavenly. My omelet was solid, the veggies were cooked until just tender. The eggs were not overcooked, a regular mistake at many diners. The potatoes were kind of forgettable, as was the coffee. If they could just fix those two things, I'm sure it would be a 5-star business. Go on a weekday and you might not have to wait in line for an hour.
(4)
Vera K.
I really enjoyed my meal here with my friend. The atmosphere was nice, felt like being at a family member's house. My omelet was delicious, there were plenty of menu options, including scrambled polenta, which is a nice gluten free/egg free alternative for breakfast. Affordable! Seating was a little tight, felt like everyone next to me was hearing my conversation. Homefries were less than delicious. 2 customers had a melt down next to me after their order wasn't taken fast enough and they stormed out, which resulted in one of the chefs in the back coming out and grilling everyone if their orders had been taken, and the rest of waitresses frowning. I thought the customers who left were totally out of line to be so impatient, but the staff's reaction almost made it worse.
(4)
Evan G.
Possibly my favorite thing about Sorella's is their awning which says DINNER BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER. Why is this notable? Because they don't serve dinner. At all. Ever. What they are is a diner, and whoever got that awning made just can't spell. On to the food-- this place is great if you get the right things. They have a huge menu, but most of it is omelets with various combinations of ingredients. I usually get one of their really simple eggs and toast breakfast specials, which are hard to mess up. My eggs have always been cooked how I asked, and the homefries are awesome! Super crispy and flavorful. My breakfast buddies have ordered some pretty crazy omelets, and those are typically good too, especially if you really like a large filling-to-egg ratio. Coffee is endless and light roast. I like the endless, I do not like light roast, but given its quantity I can get over my nitpicky coffee-snobbery. Fresh-squeezed OJ is really delicious and worth the $3 or whatever it costs. Service here has usually been quite competent and efficient, with some good local sass thrown in for flavor. Patrons really run the gamut from the elderly to the tragically hip youth JP is so known for.
(4)
Jef S.
Finally...FINALLY...got to Sorella's! I've been wanting to go for quite a while. I had cornbeef hash and eggs. Eggs were tasty; the hash was sort of disappointing: very ground up, tasty, but not quite, I dunno, hash-y enough. Lacked some flavor. Home fries were okay...I'm glad I read up before I went here because I took the well done and extra pepper advice (and salt) and it worked out fine. My companion got (get this) pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes and graciously allowed me to taste. AMAZINGNESS! Oy, I wish I'd ordered those. Everything was just ok here. The room is small, clean, and reasonably no-frills. Service was fine but nothing special. Indeed, nothing distinguished Sorella's from any other diner style restaurant in Boston that I've been to...EXCEPT FOR THEM MOTHERF***IN' PANCAKES! Overall, Sorella's gets 3.25 stars, but I'm eagerly ready to adjust this upward on my next visit.
(3)
Meena M.
I have been to Sorella's many times, but am not sure if I will go again. Their food is cheap, the menu is expansive, and the portions are big. But they don't taste amazing. Actually, is tastes like something I make at home. Some times what I make at home tastes better. I don't really recommend it if you are looking for good brunch. You should go to Centre Street Cafe or Bon Savor for good brunch.
(2)
Caroline C.
How can you not love Sorellas? They have pancakes in EVERY FLAVOR. And I don't even like pancakes and I can still appreciate how exciting this is. But not just pancakes - omelets, french toast, sandwiches, crepes. The worst part about Sorellas is making a decision on what to eat. I'm not sure why a few people are griping about service . . .it's brunch, people. What's the big hurry? Heck, half the guests are in sweatpants or pjs. Brunch is about relaxing and catching up with your family and friends, not rushing though your lunch break. I've actually never had a problem with service - and I really appreciate the fact that they will go ahead and seat your friends, even though you may be twenty minutes or so late (Sorry, friends. I know it happens a lot. Sunday morning is hard.). And they never rush you out the door, even though you finish eating an hour ago. (Moreover, it's not like Sorella's pretends to be fine dining. It's an adorable, gruff, brunch place. Staff should not be fawning all over you, especially when you are wearing sweatpants. That would be weird.) A few specific recommendations: Do NOT have the vegetarian hash. It's is not delicious. The almond/kiwi/apricot/seasame seed french toast, however, is beyond tasty. So is the orange juice. The coffee is just okay, but passable and is always refilled.
(5)
Ariana G.
Huge menu selection... Three pages of different omelettes... Made for a lot of reading, but two of the pages were all with garlic and in my years of eating and cooking, eggs and garlic are just not a great mix! File my order in the I really know better box! Will go back to try one of the items from the three pages some of the pancakes.
(3)
Cassie H.
We went here for an end-of-the year breakfast with a group of us from work. I was anticipating such great breakfast greatness that I think I built it up for a let down. The place is pretty small, but our large group was seated in a private room when our organizer made a phone call for a reservation. Their six page breakfast menu blew me away. Their non-stop coffee is pretty decent, although I was wired for the rest of the day after two and a half cups. The table of us ordered all sorts of goodies from the menu, and the food came out hot although very staggered (again, with a large group, I can't say that it's not expected). I had the French Toast special: two slices of Texas French Toast (I'm from Texas, and I'm not sure what makes their french toast "Texan"), two eggs my way, home fries, and my choice of protein. The bacon I ordered was super thin and greasy. The home fries were cold and unflavorful. My eggs were cooked pretty perfectly. The french toast was hot, but lacked the sweetness I've come to expect with my favorite french toast joints. The price was pretty sweet with most dishes around $6/person. All in all, it was worth experiencing, but I'm not so sure I'll be back.
(3)
Kari C.
Sorella's has everything you could want in a Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch place. Cash only for this wonderfully brunchy goodness. Decadent omelets the size of your face make you more full then you ever thought you could be on eggs. They also have a ton of stuff for you veggies out there. They aren't very expensive, so if you want to fill yourself to the brim, this is the place to be. The service is friendly but a bit slow, which is why it's a 4 rating, but you will always recognize friendly faces. The more you go in, the better service seems to be
(4)
Clare D.
The first place I ate at in Jamaica Plain when I moved. Amazing omelette full of cheese and fresh veggies, very good size. They also do serve mimosas now, well made ones. The service was very entertaining-stereotypical diner types, quirky but nice. My friend got the French Toast, I don't recall which kind of bread but she could pick from 8 kinds. They only take cash and their hours are kind of erratic. It says open for dinner but I've never seen them open past 2:30pm. Great little place with very good food. I've been back twice since (now November of 2011), in the span of two days. The food continues to be solidly good. Tasty french toast, corned beef hash and savory crepes have filled my belly happily. The mimosas went up in price but are still yummy. The service is still a bit surly and sassy but not in an unpleasant way and they didn't mess up any of our orders or make us wait very long once we sat down. We did have a long wait for a table on Veterans day for brunch since many people had the day off but on Saturday morning we didn't have to wait at all.
(4)
christine c.
Dive-y little breakfast place. Fast, cheap, easy...Cash only. SO MUCH ON THE MENU IT IS INSANE. Best fresh-squeezed OJ around. I am a Sorella's believer. You can't do Sunday brunch in JP any better.
(4)
Mister Chub S.
The menu is SO LONG! with so many choices it's a bit overwhelming. A lot of the meals have 5+ fillings and while they're tasty, it's just too much. I'm happy that my omelette is filled with onions, peppers, goat cheese, dried cherries, avocado, carrots and diced broccoli but I can hardly distinguish all of the flavors because there are so many. It's a cute set-up- it was like I was in someone's house having brunch because that's pretty much what it was. It was laid-back and cozy in there. A little overpriced for what it was.
(3)
Brian D.
Sorella's is a fascinating, throw-back like restaurant. It's like eating in someone's dining room, in fact I'm pretty sure part of it was once a seperate apartment that got added onto a restaurant. The food is always interesting. They come up with huge numbers of interesting combinations out of a relatively small kitchen, and if you like creative pancakes or french toast it's excellent! Both the Gingerbread Pancakes and the Cornbread French Toast are terrific, and the Sorella's Mozzarella (french toast with spinach, marinara and Mozzarella) is a big hit with me and my girlfriend. The waitstaff is a mixture of good and just okay, but they're all flexible and will work with what you want. The atmosphere is very "hipster" with college and yuppie mixed in, but that describes that entire section of Jamaica Plain. There are drawbacks. The one thing they don't do particularly well is meat in/with your breakfast. Corned Beef Hash is interesting one visit, and dull the next. I've ordered side orders of sausage or bacon and they've been bad or badly cooked. Burned or undercooked. It's not like it's a vegetarian place, but if you like some protein with your hot breakfast carbs, you may be disappointed. Still, if nothing else the restaurant gets three stars for creativity and unpretentiousness.
(3)
Claire W.
Seriously? Wow. I loved the corn bread French toast and sausage I had. There's fifteen other things on the menu I wanted to try. Agh, this place is amazing. Baby, I'd cross state lines for your sweet corn bread goodness. The corn bread was soft and the perfect amount of sweetness, not breakfast cereal overload. The cranberries and whipped cream are a happy couple on top. I will note the strawberries that were mixed in on top were very weird. They had a fermented, sour tang and I had to scrape them off. Not sure why. I'd guess the berries were not sweet to being with (ya know when strawberries look awesome in the grocery store and then you eat them and they taste unripe and sharp?). The french toast was awesome without them. The sausage was a generous portion and had a lovely spiced greasy softness when I bit into it. A perfect breakfast sausage. Sorrella's, I will be back. Oh yes, I will.
(5)
Vincent M.
Really good oatmeal chocolate chip pancakes and a hell of a good bacon and mozzerella omelet. Servers are super friendly. One negative: their menu is huge!! Seriously over 100 items! Crazy crazy stuff. Took me a little while to gaze over the menu. Overall: Great place, fast food, good service.
(4)
Cyn C.
I went on a Tuesday morning, so I didn't have to wait in line at all. This diner is old school, with your momma's crockery (from the 80's... you know... the white plates with the brown etched trim from corel?). There are about a gazillion different types of omelets, of which I tried the portugeuse (portugeuse sausage, ricotta and feta cheese, mushrooms, and tomatoes, served with spicy salsa), which includes home fries and toast. The platter is bigger than your head, and looks like a 6 egg omelet. We ate at 11am, and I didn't feel a hunger pang until well past 7pm. So, for less than $10, you can basically eat for the entire day. Loss of one star for the thin and uncrisp bacon (the guy at the next table ordered a side of bacon. Being a bacon lover PLUS being naturally nosy, I made sure to take a peek when the order came along). However, I can't wait to try some of the special french toast and pancake creations here! ETA: loss of one star. After going back a few times, I needed to dock a star. 1) slow service. you'd think a busy place would have faster service to get quicker turnaround on the tables... slow was also bad, since I never got refills on water. 2) weak weak weak coffee. If I go out for brekkie, i need a good cup of strong joe too.
(3)
Jocelyn G.
I agree with Jenna C. Every time we've been to Sorella's, I've been sick afterwards. We went back a few times to see if it was just a fluke, and it happened each time again. Don't waste your time and money here.
(1)
Caitlin I.
As someone who eats breakfast food more often during dinner time, I have to say, going here for breakfast was a nice little treat. The boy and I decided to venture out for breakfast on a Saturday morning and this place is right around the corner, so bonus points for not having to trek my lazy sleepy ass any further early in the morning. The menu is well, ridiculous to say the least. They have everything and anything your little heart could desire and some things I'm pretty sure I would never want to consume in my life. But there are also mimosas for less than $4 which was enough to make me consider having a strictly liquid breakfast. Portions were way more than I could handle and after eggs, toast, potatoes, AND sausage, I was put in a mild food coma. The food is basic (at least what I had) and I could probably make it at home if I tried hard enough, but let's face it, you go out to eat to avoid having to cook for yourself. I'm a big fan of anytime I don't have to stand in front of a stove and make food. Service was a little slow for actually getting the food, but the boy got his refills of coffee whenever it was low which is apparently very important in early morning coffee world. It also was a little hard to find the waitress when it came to getting a box for leftovers and the check, but I suppose I'd rather wait for that than my food. Slight drawback is that they only take cash which isn't a huge issue as long as you remember that before you get there. As strange it was to be eating breakfast in the morning for me, it was still a good time. The company you have helps make this place what it is.
(3)
Seth B.
Closest breakfast place to my house and well worth it. Very extensive omelets list. In fact, I've never seen one bigger. Great portions and a good price. There is often a line Saturday and Sunday and they're only serving breakfast. Closes at 130. Friendly staff. Well worth a visit!
(4)
Rich F.
Last weekend the GF and I were here for breakfast and seated on either side of us were people who no longer lived in JP, but for nostalgia decided drag themselves back in order to have breakfast. This says a lot about a place. The woman to my right declared "the pancakes here are the best" and I would have to agree. One of the reviews here stated that the omelets seemed to be a random smorgasbord of veggies. I would agree with this statement. The omelet menu is not impressive. I would rather just build my own. The rest of the menu is a lot better. The French toast and Pancake Breakfasts are the gems. You can modify them with different types of options (chocolate chips, bananas, walnuts, carrot cake, and the list goes on). The coffee is decent and service is typically fast. Plus it is pretty cheap. The location is a bit out of the way for most people who don't live close, but if you are in the area I recommend stopping for brunch or breakfast.
(4)
Kim P.
Worth the wait (though we didn't wait that long on a Sunday at 11:45ish). Loved the omlette with asparagus, artichoke hearts and asiago. Have also loved the cornbread french toast and will return to try the Italian omlette. I saw two go past me and they looked amazing--a heart attack on a plate, yes, but still--amazing. Just remember: CASH ONLY!
(4)
Laura S.
More like 3.5 stars... The service sucked! The waitress took our glasses when we were done and never returned with refills and this was before we even received our meals. Since our waitress didn't bring the food to the table we had to eat our meals without beverages until our waitress finally got off the phone and off her butt! However I the food makes up for the horrid service. They have fresh squeezed orange juice that is so good I would just go there for that, but I don't have to since everything is good. I got the banana nut bread French toast. It was amazing, I can not even explain the joy I had with each bite. It was so filling! The person I was with had the chocolate chip banana pancakes with caramel and whipped cream topping (I think that's what it was called) he too loved his meal. We can not wait to go back, I want to try everything on the menu now!
(4)
Tom H.
This place is odd: you'll never find a broader or tastier brunch menu, but the staff can be surly, and whereas some of the items on the menu are insanely good (e.g., all the french toasts and pancakes), some things are land mines (e.g., many of the omelets) and should ne avoided. But the good things really are THAT GOOD to earn 4 stars.
(4)
David K.
The menu was extensive which made it hard to choose. The service was fun, and with personality. The food was solid and tasty. We are intrigued and want to go back to try something else.
(3)
D E.
Food was great! Had french toast with eggs, bacon and potatoes. Everything was reasonably priced-about $6 for the meal. You received a nice portion too! Would definetly go back!
(4)
Nadiva N.
I heard such great reviews about sorella's. But unfortunately I was highly disappointed with my experience. It appears dirty and untidy. The waitress was sweet though. The menu is indeed overwhelming with a never-ending list of French toasts etc. My pancake order was enormous, too much for one person, less than mediocre even with all the toppings. And then finally, to add insult to injury as I took a bite of my strawberry pancakes, I bit into a large piece of onion. That was enough to put me off completely. Definitely will not go back.
(1)
Ashley K.
I went here because my roommates said, hands-down, this place had the best omelettes ever. I moved here recently, so maybe you guys have a different definition of what an omelette should be, but I've always considered it to be a nice, fluffy, folded over bunch of eggs with some filling inside. An omelette at this restaurant is more like a ring of eggs with tons of fillings on the inside. I got the mexican omelette, and I am the biggest guac lover on this planet, but half the omelette was guacamole. Kind of like eating hot guacamole, by itself. I've never before been able to say something had way too much guacamole in it. Same issue with the salsa - way too much. For a dish that's supposed to be mostly eggs, I'm not sure what's going on there. But it wasn't terribly enjoyable. Also, the toast was just weak. Itty bitty, kind of squished slices that reminded me a lot of Wonderbread. I can forgive weak food - maybe I should have just stuck with eggs over easy or something - but the service sucked too. I went with a friend, and he got his pancakes first, no syrup, just butter. And then we waited around for a few minutes, until my omelette showed up. Only then did it occur to the waiter that my friend might need syrup. Also, oddly, one glass of orange juice showed up five minutes before the other, and neither of us were offered (or given) water. At the end, as they were closing, we had to ask for our check... and then it still took a good 5-10 minutes before we got it. You'd think they'd want to go home, right? And it's not like they were overwhelmingly busy. I think there were maybe three tables left. I can do bad service with good food... and I can even forgive bad food if there's really good service. But they screwed up both. Not worth coming back.
(1)
Charmie S.
Who likes to be disappointed? Not me. I ordered the French toast with eggs, bacon and home fries. French toast had way too much egg on it, so I went nuts with syrup to give it flavor. Eggs, I ordered over hard and they were. No salt though. Bacon, well, ya can't mess up bacon! Overall, not impressed. Perhaps there's more to be desired on their supersized And, no offense, but the spot gets no love for the dingy space. I think cleanliness, or at least the appearance of, matters a bit. But I could be wrong...Best things about this place are the menu pricing (french toast, eggs, bacon and home fries = $5.95) and fast service. For this kind of fare though, I'd give Victoria's Diner in Dottie a try!
(2)
Kate S.
I was pretty disappointed with this place. I had such high hopes. The food was okay, but it wasn't what I wanted. I really had my heart set on pumpkin pancakes, and was told they were out (it was about 12:30pm). I also wanted some hot apple cider, which was posted as being available, but was told I couldn't get any because "she hasn't made it yet." Huh? The staff was so gruff and brisk, I was pushed to order something else right away (which is really hard cause the menu is HUGE) and got the pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes, which they did have, which tasted pretty good, but had way too many nuts. My sausage was way undercooked. I hope I don't get trichinosis. I finished my OJ before our order was even taken, so I then asked for a glass of water. The waitress looked really pissed to have to bring it to me, and the glass was never refilled. Like I said, the food's mostly okay, but I don't think it's worth waiting so long in the cold, dealing with grouchy staff, and possibly acquiring a parasite.
(2)
S K.
Friendly service and comfortably casual (dingy?) enough to make me feel un-anxious bringing my young kids here. But, 2 stars off for putting peanut butter chips (i.e. totally synthetic "peanut" cookie chips) in the kids' peanut-butter banana pancakes. I ordered them so he'd get more nutrition than regular pancakes. Tired of American assumption that kids should eat candy for breakfast. That said, my spinach crepe was tasty. There was no line or crowd because it was so cold out, but I would not wait in line for this place.
(3)
Meggie M.
I am a huge Sunday Brunch fan. When I'm in Boston, I can't fathom to go anywhere but Sorrella's. Ranging from delightfully sweet to scorchingly hot; they have delicious offerings for all taste buds. Along with the food, the atmosphere is adorably quirky. I've visited Sorellas several times at different hours of the day, and never had to wait for a long period of time. For me, that adds 10 bonus points.
(4)
Don N.
Good prices, good food, friendly! Would come again.
(4)
Tim W.
Notoriously slow. Served unripe tough avocado. Not worth the wait. It was just eggs! They also do not accept credit cards and close at 1 pm. The food is just not good enough to be worth all the hassle.
(2)
Katie L.
SUCH a disappointment. Their food is bland at best and the eggs are the most disgusting eggs I've ever had, zero taste. Also they charged $1 for hot water with lemon... Really? Trust me, take your $$ elsewhere.
(1)
Steph D.
Do not, under any circumstances go here on a Saturday morning! Because frankly, I don't want to have to wait any longer. Reasons I love Sorellas: Non-hipster waiters. Diet Breaker Pancakes. Eggs, made over easy, for real. Diner coffee. Awesome refill abilities. Sexy polenta. Wobbly tables, (because what's a diner without wobbly tables?) Goat cheese overloads. Sweatpants dress code. Tattoos. No pressure "fresh squeezed" juice. Not even $20 for 2 people. No cooking.
(5)
Justin I.
This is one of our favorite breakfast places. Very cheap and an absolutely massive menu. They always have a crazy amount of specials going on too. The food is so good and the place is fun to walk or take a bus to because it's right down on Centre Street in JP. Great location and it never takes too long to be seated. The main dining room is pretty small but they have a couple of other spots where they can seat people when it starts getting busy. My favorites are the omelets, so many to choose from. I've had several different ones over the past couple of years and they never disappoint. Sorella's is as good as it gets for breakfast/casual brunch. You've got to check it out even if you're on the other side of town. It's worth it.
(5)
Brendan H.
Prices: reasonable Omelets: amazing Pancakes: also amazing. All other breakfast items: fantastic. Service: friendly and fast Coffee: Horrible. I give this place five stars anyway. It's that awesome.
(5)
Megan S.
I have a torrid relationship with Sorella. I sneak out early from my house on the weekend, get a table early and dig into the biggest, fullest, mixed-up omelets I've ever had in my whole life. Your imagination isn't ready for the things they combine in their omelets. And most of them include garlic and basil. Also be sure to enjoy the prize artwork on the walls. ; )
(5)
Rachel J.
I hate to have to give you only 3 stars. I really like your crepes with the weird ingredients like "mango marsh sauce", whatever that means! There aren't that many places that will make crepes with blueberries and macadamia nuts together. I also like the wide variety of omelet combinations. Also the pancakes are amazing- pumpkin pancakes with cream cheese and strawberries are very good. And the prices hover around $8, cheap in overpriced Boston. So it seems like I really really like this place, and I used to, until I went there on a Sunday morning and waited an hour for our food, and then we finally just gave up and left. Give us a realistic estimate of the wait, don't just seat us and have us sit there for forty-five minutes!!!!! Ugh.
(3)
Scott F.
Went back. I tried their Gingerbread Pancakes. They were great. The sour cream on the side was odd. As usual, I just couldn't finish everything. I either need a bigger stomach or smaller eyes.
(3)
Luyi H.
OMG. This place is amazing. I ordered the...omelet named after a person with artichoke hearts, half an avocado (nomnomnom), more asparagus than I can handle, with mushrooms plus moz? cheese, topped with alfalfa sprouts. Then, it came with cubed potato hash and toast!!! All for under $8!!!! Wow. Great deal. The size of my omelet was HUGE, it was bursting with ingredients. They don't skimp, even if you choose the omelet with all the expensive greens. I'm a girl who loooves food, but I couldn't finish it all. I'm in love with this place, but it's soo far from where I live. :( Helpful tips. Bring cash, they don't accept plastic. And be careful of the molding on the walls. It juts out at an awkward hit-your-head height.
(5)
Dave G.
I love love love this place. The pancakes are super, the service is great and the people who work there are nice and weird. It's a quirky family run restaurant with long weekend lines to get in, so don't be surprised if you have to wait on a Saturday: There is a reason for it. I find everything about it charming and exactly what I'd expect from a family run diner that's been around for 25 years. Ignore all the people here who are complaining about waiting, the service, atmosphere. They want a sanitized and pompous South End restaurant, not a neighborhood shop. I think the best part is the seven-hundred-ingredient-omelettes tacked to the walls. It's as if someone spun the wheel of food and made a list of the craziest combination. Go, you'll see.
(5)
Dana B.
My friends took me here because they had been raving about it for months and I'd been dying to go. I don't know if it was too hyped for me, but I really didn't enjoy myself there. You wait a long time to get seated. You wait a long time to order your food. You wait about an hour to get it. My friend ordered something and was told they didnt have it. So she ordered something else. They burned it and then asked her if she wanted the thing she origionally wanted because now they have it...shady... Waiting for a while is less fun here because the staff just yells at each other all the time. And not in a haha i'm joking kind of way, but in a make customers uncomfortable kind of way. The food I had was pretty good. I did get a lot of food, but that is commonplace with most breakfast places now. I wish I had been a little more adventurous and tried one of their deliciously sounding french toast or pancake combinations instead of getting an omelette. The one thing it does have going for it is the huge menu of items.
(3)
Katelyn M.
We waited 45 minutes in near-freezing weather for a table this morning. I wish that tables of 15 didn't exist for brunch on a Sunday morning... Anyway, the menu was extensive. I have never seen so many omelettes on one menu -- goat cheese, macademia nuts, garlic, basil, broccoli, tomatoes. You could get a gourmet plate (e.g., pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes) or something more close to home (think denver omelette or texas french toast). I made a mistake by getting a super-fancy omelette. Sorell'as is a much better place (in my opinion) to get specialty french toast (home-made banana walnut bread french toast) or pancakes than a super huge (the size of my head) omelette that lacks salt, butter, or both. I got my fill of veggies, but left wishing I had splurged on a carb-heavy, syrup-laden brunch. I will go back -- pineapple zuchinni walnut bread french toast just is too enticing not to (my DH disagrees...). But no more omelletes for me.
(3)
Heather L.
Dear lord this place is terrible! I've always seen lots of people outside of sorellas so one Saturday morning I decided to try it out. The food was really bad. It was maybe comparable to ihop. The set up was pretty bad too. I was kinda confused an uncomfortable the whole time...but My waitress was great and attentive though. Still I probably wouldn't go back.
(3)
Simona S.
Talk about a hangover. Exhausted and still very nauseous from late night debauchery I came to Sorella's today seeking the obvious: grease. Eggs. Possibly bacon. I could not decide between eggs or my usual: corned beef hash. I talked to the waitress and told her about my "situation" aka I had legitimately had nothing in my system anymore thanks to a solid night and morning praying to the porcelain god. She seemed to understand. Told me to go with eggs. I told her I couldn't choose an omelet. She asked me if there was anything I didn't like. I said blue cheese. I still have no idea what omelet I got. And maybe it's for the best. I was wishing it had meat in it until she brought a small little plate of corned beef hash for me. Which is why this place got four stars because service always counts. Always. And me and my cousins can be a rough bunch to deal with. But the menu actually stressed me out. It might make more sense to just do a "create-your-own" thing instead of stressing me out with dozens of options. Especially when I'm nauseous. Pancakes were awesome, we shared some blueberry almond, etc. concoction that I finished despite being rather full. The food here is definitely good, I just need to point out (like others have said before) that the omelets aren't exactly omelets. It's all of the amazing sounding ingredients cooked together with scrambled eggs on top. As long as you know what you're getting yourself into, you'll enjoy Sorella's.
(4)
Andy O.
I have to be honest. The only positive things about Sorella's is the selection and the value. I ordered the Eggs Special and my potatoes were tasteless and too soft, unlike normal home fries which are typically a bit crispy. I've had better. The eggs were a bit runnier than I asked for but the sausage was very good. They also do not take credit cards which can be a hassle and cause a bit of an issue with payment for my friend so I had to cover.
(3)
Jessica B.
Sorella's is a decent breakfast joint. There is usually only a five, maybe ten, minute wait. Although I've yet to choose a meal that I've liked. Usually my boyfriend and I switch plates because I don't like mine. This is because Sorella's often tries to mix sweet and savory flavors. This morning I had an omlette with artichoke hearts, asparagus, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, alfalfa sprouts, cheese, cranberries, and macademia nuts. I would have prefered it without the cranberries and macademia nuts. However, my boyfriend's pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes were divine!!
(3)
Nicole S.
This place is going to become a sad addiction. I went here with a friend based upon a suggestion from a coworker. She did not steer as wrong!!!! We went through yelp reviews before going there and had some ideas for what we would get but once we got there and saw the huge menu we got overwhelmed- but in a good way. We decided out first venture there would be eggs. The food here was fantastic!!! The place is a mish mosh of decorations, settings, tables, etc but I figure that just gives it character. Our second visit was even better than the first. I got the banana peanut butter french toast. Now when I read that I figure I would get some think bread french toast with sliced bananas on top with a scoop of peanut butter on top.... well i was wrong. I got banana bread with peanut butter chips mixed in. Holy hell that was fantastic. Banana and peanut butter in every bite, plus the texture was amazing! Genius!!!! *Cash only*
(5)
Beverly G.
Meh. I don't get all the love. It's all right; by no means great. On weekends, you can't get a table to save your life and the line stretches out the door, but I've never found it to be worth the wait. The omelettes definitely suffer from a "too many ingredients spoil the dish" problem. I like their andouille sausage, though.
(2)
Linda S.
Advice for the breakfast fan who wants to sample Sorella's: 1. Get there early. The lines on the weekends are not a joke after 10:00 a.m. It's a small place and the food is great. Deal. 2. Get there early. The service when it's not that busy is awesome; if you're there when there are fifty thousand other people there, you might have to wait a little bit. Deal. 3. Order the pancakes. For the love of god, do yourself a favor, and order. The pancakes. Even if you want protein. Even if you want eggs. Bring a friend and split an order of those damn pancakes. It's criminal how good they are. Further, Sorella's has some of the best French toast I've ever tried. (Sidenote: Do not mistake their banana bread or hearty foodie bread French toast with real French toast. There's a lot going on there - too much for me. Make sure you're ordering some normal French toast with accoutrements, not a big ole hunk of banana bread fried in butter. Unless you're into that, which you might be. For me, it was a little much.) Their omelettes are a little busy for my taste, as they all include fresh garlic and basil - which I feel kind of overrides the flavor of what's going on with all the other delicious and varied ingredients you can get. (You can get many.) Sorella's has one of the most expansive menus I've seen at such a tiny little neighborhood breakfast place - hell, it's one of the most expansive menus I've seen at any breakfast place anywhere. They have tons of exotic variations on their omelettes, pancakes, and French toast, and everything is really incredibly reasonably priced (truly - one of the last few places in the Northeast where you can actually get a great, filling breakfast for under ten bucks, tip included if you're careful). I've always found the service efficient and friendly, and accurate. There was this one time when my waitress came off a little surly, but I smiled at her and was polite and then she smiled at me and was really nice. And they always get my order right, and they always make sure I have coffee or juice or whatever I want. So yeah. Hearts for Sorella's.
(4)
Joshua B.
GREAT CHEAP EATS MADE WITH LOVE! At 12:15 yesterday we called to find out their hours and the lady who answered was very nice and told me they take their last order at 1:30. We got there at 12:30 and there were only a few people eating. I was ready for a ham and cheese omlet, which I admit seemed too boring with all they had to offer. My boyfriend had trouble picking, he settled with the JP Omlet which was great. Fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee.... it was great. The cute lady and the big guy who seem to run the place were accommodating and made us feel like we were regulars. First out drinks came up and about seven or eight minutes later our food showed up looking hot and yummy. In these few minutes the place filled up--including a party of six! Omlets were great, toast was crisp and buttery... home fries could use some lovin. We plan on going back, we were stuffed for hours. Dinor food without the greasy stomach ache. Next time I'm getting french toast!!! OPEN DAILY 7AM-1:30PM
(5)
Fernando R.
I actually worked at Sorellas from 2004-2008 on sundays through out High school. The wait is long I am not going to lie. I had troubles getting people out. You have to understand their is 3 rooms at Sorellas the first one is up to 4 people sometimes 5. Same thing with the second one. The last one is for big tables. And also their is only one grill for the entire restaurant. So it does take time to make food. The food is good and fresh. I know they have a guy that makes produce deliveries on a Sunday! My favorite food is the Texas and Cha-Cha Omelette.
(4)
Tyler C.
this place has the reputation....but the 2 times i've gone, the food has been....underwhelming. Maybe I haven't ordered the right thing. oatmeal pancakes w/ various fruit was pretty good flavorwise but not fluffy, and actually kind of heavy. Crepes were not that exciting. This place does have an impressive menu selection...but I think for JP brunch, Center Street Cafe still stands head and shoulders above all else for overall tastiness.
(2)
Julie S.
I love Sorella's! Cheap, huge variety, attentive service. I always go here when family visits from out of town. I've tried many categories from the menu, and I've never been disappointed. I tend to stay on the pancakes/waffles side, but I think my absolute favorite is the homemade polenta with guacamole, tofu and salsa. There are many vegetarian/vegan modifications available. The coffee is OK but not extraordinary. Fresh-squeezed orange juice is pricey but a nice treat. If you go with children, there is a playground about 2 blocks away (walking up Centre, away from Perkins) for them to burn off energy (and maybe you can burn off some of that breakfast :)
(5)
Jon L.
What a great amazing breakfast. I went in like a half hour before they opened and they where cool with it. I regulary don't get omlettes because they are something I can make at home, but after looking at all the amazing omlettes I went for one. It had basil, garlic, shallots, spinach, sundried tomatoes, salmon, boursin, fresh spinach etc. It was so fresh tasting. I would say the best omlette I have ever had. Extremely creative menu, well done!!
(5)
Adam E.
Here's the thing about Sorella's. You have to order the right thing, cuz they have a few dishes that are perfect and a bunch that totally blow. You also have to be patient and wait for a table, and I think everyone here has done that at one time or another and survived. Personally, I think waiting is half the fun of brunch. You can chit chat with your friends and anticipate the best meal ever. You probably won't get that at Sorella's, but if you play your cards right, you'll leave very full and satisfied. The potatoes suck, they're boring. The scrambled eggs are runny and that is so not my thing. I always get the pumpkin pancakes with cranberries and nuts, with cream cheese and strawberries on top. It's expensive, but I've tried a lot of other dishes and that's the only one that works for me. The coffee is like AA coffee, which I can appreciate even though I prefer a dark roast. Basically, it's a solid 3-star joint. If you never make the mistake of trying one of their many substandard dishes you might interpret it for 4 or 5 stars.
(3)
Vanessa C.
HOLY HORRIBLE BREAKFAST can I even put into words how disappointed I am in MYSELF for returning to this place for a second or third time. its around the corner & I didnt know any other places to go in JP for breakfast. but this was really just too much - LAZINESS DOES NOT PAY OFF, PEOPLE! where to begin.... the potatoes? undercooked and tasteless. the omelette? undercooked and tasteless. the side of veggies? I could count the number of leafy greens on ONE HAND for petes sake!!! OVERPRICED! the "varieties" of French toast? I think I got the pumpkin or banana who knows it all tastes identical but it is NOT French toast. DO NOT BE DECEIVED!!! it is like a slice of banana bread tossed onto a grill. SO DISGUSTING! even my overuse of caps cannot convey my disappointment in this place. moral of the story: good breakfast is worth the commute! I dont care if I have to drive back to somerville every sunday for the rest of my life, it sure beats the hell out of the crappy breakfasts I've had here. NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)
Haley C.
There are a lot of items on the menu. Service is fast and the staff is extremely friendly. There are only a few vegan options, but i had a tasty vegan meal for pretty cheap.
(4)
Rachel S.
Sorella's is really charming. The food is delicious- I took my brother there for his birthday on a tuesday morning and there was no wait whatsoever. From experience, I can say their Oatmeal Chocolate Chip pancakes, Cornbread French Toast with whipped cream and strawberries, and turkey sausage are awesome. I can't really believe how many people complain about this place. I've had one of the omelets and it was pretty great, too. If you're unsure of what to get and are afraid of all of the angry reviews, definitely go for one of their sweeter menu items- you won't be disappointed. update 6/21- I've now had many of the omelets & crepes and they've all been delicious. The homemade chicken salad has nuts & apples and was mighty tasty. Excellent turkey sausage and hash, too!
(5)
Sean J.
Can you please fix the grammatical and spelling errors on your signage that's all over the place. and yes, i don't want sprouts, bacon, dates, and goat cheese on my western tropical omelet... Someone needs to do some editing.
(4)
Greg M.
Decent food, decent price, decent service. All I have to add is to stay away from the omlettes with too many ingredients. There isn't nearly enough egg to contain all of it. I know that sounds like a compliment, but it's not. I ordered an omlette with asparagus, garlic, avocado, and cheese (there may have been something else as well). Everything was just in giant chunks. There was just a half of avocado sitting in there, next to a bunch of whole spears of asparagus and a glob of melted cheese. Everything should have been chopped and dispersed evenly. And it wasn't even near propotionate to the amount of egg. This was more like a farmer's market.
(3)
Hans M.
Ok, I cannot heap enough praise on how great this diner is. First of all, the menu is humongous. I have never seen so many different varieties of omelets and pancakes. The decor is kind of downhome neighborhood, with handwritten menu items on placards all over the place. I was a little worried they didn't have menus and I'd have to wander around the place just to read all the selections. I had a Mexican omelet and it was quite tasty full of peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, jalapenos, guacamole and a generous portion of salsa on top. I love to eat a huge breakfast and often will get eggs, bacon toast, home-fries and a pancake on the side. Needless to say the omelet here was so big I could hardly even finish it and was glad I didn't order that pancake even though my neighbor's did look great. What can be better than a combination of eggs and tex-mex. I found the wait staff/owners to be really friendly and curious about the ebook reader that at first was glued to my face - I was eating by myself, I usually don't think to talk with others while I'm eating. However, this was and exception as the clientele was a very diverse mixture of some of the friendliest people I've ever met in the Boston area. I ended up staying around talking almost two hours with a mother and her 10 year old daughter sitting next to me - who had a menu item named after her - the aforementioned pancakes. How cool is that?!? Something about this restaurant and JP as a whole just has a really cool vibe. I look forward to gorging myself on another omelet here soon.
(5)
Joe S.
My wife and I are currently relocating to JP and a friend of mine who lives in the area stopped by to check out the new place. He had suggested that we go to Sorella's for some lunch. Its right around the corner. First impression, this is no-frills dining. It's a small, family owned restaurant that really packs them in. We went after 12, so we didn't have to wait for a table. The menu is huge. Its filled with all different types of omlettes. I had the "volcano" which had spinach, mushrooms, avocado, and bleu cheese. I was under the impression the bleu cheese would be of the crumbled variety, but come to find out, they just poured some bleu cheese dressing in the omlette. Maybe it was the texture, but it really didn't do it for me. Given the size of the menu, I'm sure I'll eventually find some dishes that I'll enjoy. So all is not lost. The iced coffee was delicious as well.
(3)
Diana L.
Some bastard told me this place was woman-owned and like the walking San Francisco hippie stereotype that I am, I mindlessly followed my social consciousness into Sorella's. Well, you can take away my karma points, because I'm just gonna come out with it: EVERYTHING WE ATE HERE WAS BAD. I don't know how they managed to make everything taste bad, but they did it. Congrats.
(1)
Theresa A.
The food here is good, love the waffles, huge menu and fresh squeezed OJ. The service needs some work
(3)
Megan L.
I recently went to Sorella's when I didn't feel like standing in the rain at Centre Street Cafe. Sorella's suprisingly had no wait, but oddly enough, it took FOREVER to get our food. I ordered a breakfast burrito that consisted of scrambled eggs, avocado, and cilantro. My friend ordered scrambled eggs and toast. I think we waited 30 minutes to be served. It was crazy. I could have hopped back there and whipped up scrambled eggs in 3 minutes. The food tasted okay, but the service left much to be desired. I might go back, but only if there is no wait. No way would I wait twice for their breakfast. One positive thing I can muster...Sorella's is really cheap. We ate for like $9 plus tip.
(2)
R. B.
Pancakes can be good.... the eggs, potatoes etc are on par with your basic all-night diner. BUT, the coffee is the absolute worst I've ever been served in a cafe. Tasted like it was recycled grounds (you know, when you run out of grounds and try to put more water through in hopes of getting real coffee to come out again, and it never works). Bleh. I did have a good egg sandwich here once though. I'd recommend that.
(2)
Bernadette S.
Five stars for the sheer variety of omelettes and pancakes. We all have our fave. Mine is the pumpkin cranberry walnut with strawberries and cream cheese on top which is out of this world delicious. I feel gross afterwards from the sheer sweetness, so now I order a basic western omelette with a side of ONE pumpkin cranberry walnut pancake. Sure, it's a lot of food, but we share it. Their home fries have gotten better over the years, but they should be ordered well done and then generously sprinkled with pepper. Service is gruff and efficient, which is all I need in the morning anyway.
(5)
Eve G.
Absolutely terrible. We get in there, and then the head cook is yelling at his staff because he has nothing better to do, and of course, one of the staff quits and walks out. Now, we've ordered our meal and we sit there for 45 minutes before I ask the waitress, who seems to be completely OUT OF IT when our meal is coming. Another 15 minutes later it comes. I get the oatmeal and chocolate chip pancakes which taste like bacon and have probably one oat in the whole batch. I ask this other man who seems to be working for Sorella's if I could get a refill on my coffee, since it had been 30 minutes before anyone has stopped to ask if I want anymore. He snaps at me saying, "someone just walked out." Then, he proceeds to fill it with a jarring look on his face. I've gone to Sorella's numerous times before this, and each time, I tell myself I'm never going back. This time, I may actually consider never going back. It honestly looks like the actual owner gave up on the place ten years ago. If the place gained a little more spirit in staff, food and service, it might do it some good.
(1)
Ellen C.
Go! Go Go Go! The pancakes were delicious. I don't even care that they were out of my first two choices (be warned), because the ones I ended up getting were so good. I'd never heard of this place before a friend invited me to go. I also seem to remember that it was reasonably priced, easy to get to, and had an unfortunately long wait that was COMPLETELY worth it. It was a little hard to communicate with the waitstaff. Seriously though, the food completely makes up for absolutely anything else. Go tomorrow morning if you can.
(5)
Jenna C.
I really want to like Sorella's. I want to like it so much that I give it 5 stars and say I'll go there every weekend because it's conveniently located across the street from my apartment. But I can't because I actually HATE Sorella's :( The few times I've been there I've never been able to even attempt to finish my meal and left feeling sick. But I kept going back hoping this would be a fluke. After 3 visits I realize this is no fluke... it's just awful. I don't care how big the menu is. Have they even heard of quality over quantity? What's the point of making tons of shitty food? It's beyond me. Unfortunately the food isn't even the worst part. The customer service is atrocious. Seriously, the waitresses that I've had could not have a worse attitude problem and I am ALWAYS nice. Especially when I'm not even fully awake yet. All my visits have been well after the morning rush so I don't understand why I have to wait 10 minutes for some juice when I'm watching them stand there and do nothing. Grrrrr!
(1)
Yianni G.
Sorella has some of the best pancakes in the country according to this article which they flaunt on their front window flyertalk.com/forum/show… I waited fro 30 minutes during the Sunday snow storm to check out what the fuzz was all about and all I have to say is...Holy Pancakes! I got this thing called the Ben's Thunder- 4 banana pancakes (home made batter), with raspberries, strawberries, tons of whip cream and coconut flakes. It was life changing. Plus I made a new friend while waiting for a table. Her name is Meg and we ate together. My next pancake experience will probably be the ginger strawberry thing every keeps talking about. They should really expand.
(5)
K T.
This place is now my favorite brunch spot in Boston. Love it. Absolutely crazy menu, ridiculously good food, tons of vegetarian options, pretty good coffee, a good value for what you get. The service wasn't mindblowing, but the people I talked to were nice and they're definitely not stingy with the coffee refills. It takes a while to get your food, but do you really have anything better to do on a Sunday morning?
(5)
Mary L.
I've been visiting Sorellas for years now, and can't speak more highly of the food. The carrot walnut pancakes are my favorite: real shreds of carrot in the pancake! The staff have a lot of character, the food is good, and the atmosphere is very "Boston." Highly recommended. Be prepared though: they are cash only.
(5)
H.E. A.
Perfect place for family brunch and local's favorite. Our kids and their friends love the menu and atmosphere. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is the looking wait and slow and curt service because of that (especially after Sunday service, it gets packed). During the week, experience might be different. Highly recommended if you're looming for comfort food.
(4)
Boston G.
I've been to Sorella's twice. The first time, the experience was quite good - the food is a very interesting mix of sweet and savory (for instance, pumpkin pancakes, breakfast burritos, sweet and salty crepes) - a very full and fascinating menu. The problem with this restaurant is the interminable wait you have to go through to actually be served. You will wait 25 minutes just to get in, and then it's anybody's guess when you'll actually get your food (usuallly another 25-30 minutes.) I don't know about you, but when I'm hungry for breakfast, I'm HUNGRY. I was just there this past Sunday with a friend, and after waiting about 45 minutes, still holding our menus, with coffee but no water (which we'd asked for) we saw the group of folks who'd come in after us having their orders taken before us... ? I know, it can be a waitress's nightmare to have to keep track of EVERYONE in the restaurant, but clearly we'd been there first. And no matter how good the food, waiting over 45 minutes JUST TO ORDER is not worth it. Add the facts that there is no air conditioning, they only accept cash, they are always understaffed and the tables are cramped = not worth the time. It's sad to say, because the food is good, but you can find better places.
(1)
Crystal C.
The last year I lived in Boston, my boyfriend at the time lived a few blocks from Sorella's, and it quickly became THE destination for weekend brunch. We would stand out in the cold, rain, snow, whatever as long as we had to in order to get a table. And every time it was worth the wait. Both the upstairs and downstairs dining areas are a bit cramped, so you have to be able to tollerate the close quarters. Service was always great. But the food. It's all about the food. They had so many options that it was almost overwhelming and I know I never got to try everything they offered. Whether you are a fan of egg based breakfast dishes or just want some pancakes or french toast, you will find something inventive and delicious.
(5)
Janine A.
I finally got to Sorella's. The menu is a little over whelming, every omelet and pancake listed on the menu seems to have 5 or more ingredients. I'd come back but order again without so many ingredients. It takes away from the food there are just too many ingredients. Portions are huge and the fresh squeezed OJ is great. My reason for 3 star is too many ingredients and options make options seem not well thought out. Our food was ok, not executed that well. Our lobster burrito had different ingredients in the beginning, middle , and end of the burrito.
(3)
Meghan M.
There was no wait to sit, but it took a while to get serviced and for our food to be served. BUT the breakfast burrito was probably the best I've ever had. No credit cards, kind of annoying, but an ATM nearby.
(4)
Brian D.
I was really pissed off when my woman dragged me to Sorellas on aSaturday morning. I knew from driving by this place a million times that it was a hotbed of crunch eyed, late morning rising, slow eating, mofo's. I'm kind of a 'in and out' breakfast guy, give me eggs or a muffin or a god damn burger - i don't care just do it quick, with coffee and without enough grease to send me immediately into gastric convulsions. So...after waiting for 10 minutes outside (the joint looks small from the outside but has a sneaky hidden side seating area) - we were seated by the scary hostess, she didn't scare me too much I was actually happy that she wasn't a bubbly morning scenester. Coffee was brought STAT and i dived into the really overwhelming menu. that is probably going to be my only complaint - too much to chose from. seriously, what the hell - 3 different polenta options, at least 10 different pancake options, enough omelette options to make the french weep and seriously, not overpriced at all. i really wanted just eggs but after breaking down into tears after seeing polenta coming out with jalapenos i had to succumb and get all yuppie-hippie for breakfast. The food was really fresh, well prepared and served in a heaping mound that filled me for hours. So, in JP - need food, don't mind sleepy annoying breakfast banter - GO to Soreallas.
(4)
Vivian H.
I went there this morning, and it was wonderful. Its a cute, cozy place and the prices are great. If you arrive before 9AM, I think they have early bird specials. I got the French toast deal, lots of food and very fast. I will definitely go back to try their different pancakes, which I hear is their specialty.
(4)
Mark S.
Why can't you guys just chop the veggies in your "fancy omellettes?" Stick with the normal stuff and you'll be ok.
(2)
Angelina C.
I love your omelets, french toast, home fries, coffee, pancakes, etc. like I love my mom. I love your prices. I love how you're five minutes from my house.
(4)
D M.
I really like this place for a dive-y poor customer service experience, but the last time I went was with Jesse and Robert, and while Robert enjoyed his breakfast, Jesse was kind of appaulled. And once I thought about it, I can see why.......the customer service is always pretty crap-tastic, and while the food is good and filled with veggies, it's always a little dirty and has a kinda crusty feel to it. I get that. But the food is cheap and it's very much a little local place that people will always flock to, whether it's good service or not. It's hard to believe I am saying this, but it's a little to hippy casual for me. I like my diners cleaner and my waitresses to have french twists and big hair if they are more nasty. Is that weird? Oh, heads up......no credit cards are accepted here.
(3)
AB H.
Long wait, surly service, OK food. This was my second time to Sorella's. I think my basic complaint is that the chunks of veggies in the omelettes are too big and under cooked. The ginger french bread and oatmeal, walnut, carrot pancakes were a little bland. Even the gorgonzola sauce on top of my omelette was bland. The freshly squeezed oj was good. Omelettes come with home fries and toast - meh, not that good.
(2)
Linda H.
Went for brunch today. Decent prices, but things do add up. Food was decent. As reported by others, they give you decent-sized portions. Lots of different options. Omeletes are fairly large. Lots of fillings in them, but a bit bland. But, better that I add my own pepper and ketchup than to have it too salty I guess. Also, if you're debating about the corned beef hash, my dining partner reports that it's from the can. Nothing spectacular about it I guess. So, a good option for breakfast if you're local and looking for a fairly inexpensive place with lots of choices.
(3)
Russ A.
I had visions of a new favorite breakfast joint when I walked into Sorella's for the first time and started flipping through the expansive menu. With specials like cornbread french toast, avocado in almost every dish and loads of veggie options how could you go wrong? Lets start with the good. Their coffee is decent and the server came by several times to refill my mug. Also, the breakfast sandwich I ordered was pretty solid (egg/cheese w/ avocado, sprouts and lox on everything bagel). What made me give this two stars is the fresh fruit bowl I ordered. It was pretty much the opposite of "fresh". The strawberries were mushy and had rotten spots all over them. The cantaloupe, kiwi and honeydew were previously frozen and mushy to the point where it almost fell apart on my fork. I guess my biggest gripe is that they advertise this as "fresh" when it's obviously not. I might go back again, but would stay far away from anything with fruit, which is a shame because their pancakes with fruit sounded pretty awesome.
(2)
lizzie b.
I really enjoyed looking through the menu. That alone could have taken like 25 minutes. I think it's a little spastic --- you have your omelettes, your exotic omelettes, your omelette specials, your super crazy omelettes. How many items can you fit into one omelette? I got #4 -- which had avocado, spinach, portabella, gouda... I think there was mint in there, tomatoes.... The problem is that it was basically a mix of veggies with omelette on top. I'm more of a baked-in type of omelette girl. Homefries were okay. So, decent overall. But I'd check out some other JP gems before I went back.
(3)
Lila S.
Holy Hell....., why haven't I been here sooner?! My hubbs took me here for the first time yesterday and I could barely take the grin off my face. SOOO many choices of fruit and nuts to put in your waffles,pancakes or french toast. Folks, trust me on this one even you are a die hard savory breakfast eater, you will melt when your toungue hits the taste of banana peanut butter french toast with strawberries and whipped cream!! Its seriously a mouthgasm. Not to mention that all the French Toast is on Texas toast STANDARD!! 3 Slices were way too much but I tried my best. They don't mess around with ingredients here, some combinations that struck me were: Blueberry Walnut Maple pancakes, oatmeal peach waffles,Gingerbread French Toast and CORN BREAD FRENCH TOAST mmmmm.. My hubbs needs Eggs benedict to be happy in life but didn' t see it on the menu. You can still ask for it, but it will come as poached eggs on your choice of bread and hollindaise ( or whatever) sauce. He got it with corned beef hash and said it was perfect altogether. Now, Its worth mentioning.... burritros.... oh....my...god ... people They make a mean omlette at this place( with crazier ingredients than I could even mention) but the burritos can be breakfast or lunch style and ARE SOOO GOOD. Trust me I likes me a goood burrito. The only reason they don't get 4 stars, service was nice but sllloooww. Oh yah and weirdo couples like to frequent this place and stare at everything you eat! That said go there and love it up
(4)
Bryan S.
My friends raved about this place for so long. I was very excited to try it out. What a let down. They were out of half of the menu but the worst part was that the place is filthy! I cannot tolerate eating under those conditions and I won't return. I'm going to give it 2 stars because most of my friends still love to go there... maybe it's just me?
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Robert C.
When I first walked into the place, I just knew I was in for an awesome breakfast experience based on their home-dining ambiance. This is your legit ma and pa, comfort breakfast food joint doing all the right things to make you to feel welcomed and out feeling more than satisfied ready to take on the day. Omelette options are plentiful and cater to everyone's needs, and light! Waffles and toppings of your choice for your sweet tooth. Bottomless coffee :) Can't go wrong
(4)Aaron D.
An omelette is never just an omelette. Sure, anyone can beat a couple eggs and fry them up with some goodies inside, but it takes a seasoned professional to put the right amount of the RIGHT ingredients in a breakfast you won't soon forget. That's how it is at Sorella's. With plenty of meat friendly and veggie friendly omelette options, everyone is sure to find something they'll love. It's cheap, it's quick, and the coffee is good. Don't be fooled by the out-of-date signage, Sorella's is where you want to be.
(4)Kristine A.
I had never been & was like sure why not, let's try some place new. The place is small & typical mom & pop place that only takes cash. Things to be made aware of when you get there not when the bill is coming Well there were people waiting outside & that meant a wait for a table which is to be expected on a weekend morning. When he said it would be like 5 or 10 min I thought great, not a long wait. Well since he didn't take my name down I wasn't sure how he was going to keep track of people as more & more showed up. He comes outside & starts taking names but the issue is how he put someone else's name before mine but says he knows I was there first. That totally backfired. They ended up getting seated before us & it was already 20 minutes later & hungrier of course. I mentioned this later & then finally got us in. Thank goodness we already knew what we wanted & ordered right away. The server was very friendly & helped us out right away. The have had written signs all over their restaurant & some of which is spelled incorrectly on their menu too. The have so many varieties of pancakes that it's hard to pick which ones you should get. Pretty damn tasty.
(3)Sophia E.
Was really disappointed since I had such high hopes for this place. Waited for 20 minutes for someone to take our order, was told to move tables because a bigger party was coming in... All of this would have been fine except for the fact that everything on our plates was undercooked. Ordered the eggs special over easy and got eggs that still had the raw whites. Two out of the three sausages were cold if that makes any sense. Everything was so rushed. With the manager yelling at his staff in plain sight of customers, we knew we wouldn't be coming back again. If they took their time and actually paid attention to their customers, it could have been a great spot in JP.
(2)Sylvia P.
Very affordable and extensive creative brunch menu. It's a small place but we got lucky and our party of 8 was seated pretty quickly. Definitely coming back.
(5)Allison M.
I had high hopes for this place as well and was disappointed. It appears as a small diner with diner type food which is fine. The food itself was ok. I had a Romeo omelette which comes with grape tomatoes and toast. The omelette came out and there was a random grape tomato just chilling on the plate. Like why is it just on the plate and not in the omelette? And I expected the tomatoes to be sliced..they were just whole tomatoes in an omelette. Also the toast had some green stuff on it. I'm pretty sure it was smeared avocado but they could've done better with that. I also dared to ask for jelly and it was so solid, I couldn't even try it. Probably won't be coming back again but it was an experience.
(2)Herb S.
I used to go to Sorella's when I lived near JP to get brunch on Sundays. Always had a great experience. Make sure to bring cash!
(5)Em J.
I used to live in JP, and this was one of my top places for brunch. I still visit every so often. This is a location that is best enjoyed dining in. It's best to go in smaller groups (maybe 4-5, tops). They have their regular menu full of great choices, and their walls are decorated with art AND other food suggestions - i.e. 10 additional pancake options, or omelet choices at any given time. The pricing is cheap, CASH ONLY, and the atmosphere is a very friendly, family-like business. Enjoy coffee with cheap brunch? Great! Unlimited refills, and they come around quite frequently to make sure you have what you need. It's a very quaint restaurant, and the first time I went there I almost missed it, walking by. For a simple, sweet weekend brunch, this is perfection. After enjoying a big meal here, walk around JP and head over to the pond. When the weather is lovely it makes for a beautiful Saturday afternoon.
(5)yoyo b.
Great pancakes but the rest of their menu is eh. Great service though. Very accommodating and kid-friendly.
(4)Margarita S.
I came here at 12 noon on Sunday and waited outside to get seated for about 20 min. The host was really nice and smiley girl. I got a round table next to the window though i was alone. The first thing I realized that they accept only cash. OK, it is reasonable for such a small place. I ordered a Neptune Omelette. About 5 min later the waiter said they ran out of avocado and offered a guacamole which was fine with me. The omelette itself was good thought it didn't have a promised guacamole. Oh well. The service was fast and welcoming though. Good for a family brunch but don't expect too much from this place.
(3)Stacy H.
if you love breakfast, you're going to come here. keep it simple silly: 1 CASH ONLY 2 literally dozens of omelette options with enough choices for you sweet teeth 3 vegetarian and vegan options galore: you can substitute anything for tofu or tempeh 4 coffee refills every 5 minutes? yes please (coffee is only decent though, so don't expect too much) 5 three different hot sauce options 6 not really good for big groups (ie 4+), since this is a smaller restaurant i had the neptune omelette, which was really fascinating and yummy: eggs with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, seaweed, topped with sprouts served with a side of home fries. yum! the spinach and seaweed meshed wonderfully, so that even someone like me who eats seaweed consistently didn't even recognize it until halfway through the omelette. definitely going to come back!
(4)Natasha M.
Sadly, did not enjoy our takeout breakfast. I ordered the french toast special and was not impressed. Home fries were dry, french toast was soggy, and tofu was bland (substituted for meat selections). Service was friendly though and they do not accept cards, so we had to run to the ATM.
(2)Nina H.
OMG someone roll me out of here!!! I can't seem to stay away. Every time I go I find something new to love. Omelets are divine. Pancakes are sinful. Price is perfect.
(4)Yuka Y.
Sorella's is my favorite, no frills breakfast diner located in Jamaica Plains. About 10 minutes away from JP's ASPCA and literally across the street from Whole Foods. 50+ omelette options and the portions are always hearty. From pancakes to waffles, you are spoiled for choice here my friends. Amazing prices, ~$7 omelettes included with 2 pieces of toast. ++Recommend the Mexican omelette- the jalapeno peppers mixed with the melting cheese and salsa is great for my spicy fanatics. The owner with the Boston accent and the staff have always been sweet hearts. Martin's in Brookline used to be my favorite, but Sorella's is my new rave given that it's less claustrophobic. What makes a great diner is not only the food but also the atmosphere. I like my diners having this dated feel without the rushed service or the claustrophobic feels. I like my diners as a place where I can dress like shit, a place with the homey feels. The decor is charming. Stepping into Sorella's feels like a step back into the 80s. The walls are adorned with all sorts of knicknacks from certificates, colorful construction papers featuring hand written new menus, to a plaque of the state of Chicago. You can seriously play a game of "I Spy" with the things plastered along their turquoise-on-pink walls. All around a charming place, a Boston keepsake.
(5)Mallory R.
At first glance, Sorella's seemed like a great place. I was charmed by the quaint decor and amazed at how huge the menu was. My two friends, one a carnivore and one a vegan, and I decided that we would always come here because everyone could find something they liked. However, as we examined the menu and the decor longer we started to fall out of love. Why are there FOUR sections devoted to omelets? You can choose from: Omelets, New Omelets, Exotic Omelets and Special Omelets. A section labeled Good Omelets would have probably been enough. This was on top of the other usual brunch fare such as breakfast burritos, crepes, pancakes and waffles. I've watched enough Kitchen Nightmares to know that a menu that is too large often means that the quality cannot be assured. It calls for too much product to be kept on hand, and for the kitchen staff to be pulled in too many directions. I ordered a fruit crepe, my vegan friend ordered the vegetarian hash with 2 scrambled eggs (don't judge, it's her life) and my other friend ordered a breakfast burrito. As we waited for our food we began to see the decor for what it really was: cheap. The room we were in had a bay window in the front that was sporting one lacy curtain on just one of the window panels. There was a lot of cheap art from Bed, Bath & Beyond and they hung identical paintings right across from each other. I honestly have no idea what kind of atmosphere they were trying to set here. It all just made me worried about what the back of the house (the kitchen) looked like. When we did receive our meals, our growing fears were addressed. Our plates we haphazardly thrown together. My vegan friends meal looked like a mess and she found bacon in her vegetarian hash. My crepe was completely uncooked and seemed to be held together with fluff. It was good, for what it was, but it wasn't what I was expecting. My other friends breakfast burrito was huge but nothing to write home about. We ended the meal with an agreement that we would go to City Feed and get some good coffee and snacks that would actually be worth our money. We decided ice cream sundaes were necessary as well. Overall, the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't feel good about the meal I had. It just seemed like a dirty restaurant. If they were to trim down their menu and clean up the place I think I would return but for now it's off my radar.
(1)Alexa B.
I had the cornbread French toast. My goodness it was fantastic. The staff was friendly and everyone who walked in was treated with a smile. Despite being full everything showed up quickly and cooked perfectly!! Definitely worth a visit!
(5)Michael W.
As we walked in to this restaurant we were greeted from across the room with a loud bellowing "for two?" from a giant warrior-of-a-man behind the counter. We either nodded or perhaps we shook our heads vertically in terror, I can't really be sure. The gentle giant made his way to our table with a friendly "good morning!" and provided us with menus for which to plan our conquest. Miss Sarit got her usual eggs over-easy and home fries, I went a bit savage and got in touch with my Portuguese heritage and ordered the spicy Portuguese omelet. As it was laid upon me, I tilted my head back; challenge accepted. I laughed at the option of substituting ingredients for tofu or even tempeh. I readied my utensils of war and strategized a battle plan for attacking this Goliath of a foe. Shall I try a slingshot? Nah, that's been done in biblical times. A fork and a knife? Now there's a challenge worthy of my breakfast plate. As I cut in to my enemy, the spicy sausage and cheese split apart like sausage and cheese will when in the presence of greatness. As I sampled my enemy's defenses, I could not help but to savor the sweet sensation of chaotic dominance. Shall I go for the sausage? The cheese? The peppers? The jalapenos? Salsa? Home fries!? Go big or go home, or as we like to say in Portugal, "Go big-o or go el casa-o." I went for it all. I emerged victorious, and did mi familia proud. This plate is worthy of temptation. Give in to your indulgences and taste the suppleness of victory again and again. Revisit, and conquer a new dish; they have plenty to last you a lifetime. So many in fact, that they ran out of space on the menu and began listing them on the walls. Sorella's - Jamaica Plain, Boston's establishment of choice for the breakfast Conquistador within us all.
(4)Natanya A.
They have a wide selection of food, but it's all kind of bland. I do like that they're very vegetarian and vegan friendly. Cash only.
(3)Danielle R.
This place is truly family-friendly and delicious. Not only is the restaurant itself incredibly spacious (with ample seating available in their two dining rooms), but their menu is also so lengthy that everyone is sure to find something they'll enjoy for breakfast/brunch. We ordered the two omelette specials, the Romeo and Juliet, and thought they were both terrific. I've never seen a larger omelette selection anywhere in Boston. We also ordered the Greek French Toast, which was a recommendation by our waiter. It was also very good; the bread was similar to challah which is classically known to be great for french toast. Minus one star because the service can be slow and the restaurant itself is slightly off the beaten path. Definitely a cute spot to seek out, though!
(4)Cassie C.
We really wanted to like this place, but they just dropped the ball too many times. We put our name in, only to have multiple parties called before we finally went in to ask (including a party called multiple times) - our name had gotten crossed off. We finally got to sit and then it took a bit to get our order in. After that, things mostly improved - server was cool, pancakes and cornbread french toast were very tasty. The savory was good but nothing extraordinary. Overall, it just seemed pretty disorganized.
(3)Carolyn P.
My husband and I enjoyed the atmosphere. We sat in the front with the doors open which was great with a cafe feel and our waitress Jess was very personable and great to talk to. We ordered appetizers for our first visit and the bacon wrapped steak was excellent along with the portobello mushroom and peppers. The owner came over to greet us and it was just a very nice relaxing experience. We will be back!
(5)Ia J.
A solid 'meh' for the breakfast burrito. Can't speak to anything else on the menu.
(3)Brian L.
Brags (+): Dependably good. I've only been there for brunch, but I always go there knowing get a satisfying meal. The menu is expansive, although it does seem like they just made a name for every conceivable permutation of their ingredients. The cornbread french toast is excellent, and every kind of omelet I've gotten has been nom-tastic. Beats (-): The food can be a little slow at times, and the setting isn't the most comfortable. I would bump it up to 5 stars if the environment was a bit more comfy/sleek. Variance (~): Unfortunately, every time I've been to Sorella's, they take us to the extension seating area, which is up through a separate entrance outside the main door. It just doesn't seem as nice as the main area, but the food is the same, ostensibly.
(4)Casey W.
Very quaint restaurant owned by a helpful, local gentleman. We had a great breakfast and felt very welcome while we were there. Definitely plan on going back in the future
(5)Joshua D.
I used to love this place, until I came here too often and saw their flaws. Here are the problems with Sorella's: They don't care about you, and when I say this I mean because they are usually so busy the service is lax and comes with a slight bit of superiority, like they don't need your business because business is booming. THe food they serves isn't always fresh, My friend has been served rotten raspberries before and they didn't seem to mind. They don't give you a receipt that anyone but the person who wrote it can read and when you ask for a readable written slip, they get real upset. The major problem is they don't care.
(1)Lydia V.
I love this place! It's my favorite brunch place in Jamaica Plain! They specialize in exotic omelettes and savory crepes! Their freshly squeezed is amazingly addicting but expensive. It's small and cozy. Cash only!
(5)Bruce R.
This place made me think, "this is what you would get if you let a bunch of children play restaurant with a real restaurant." I would call it quirky and amusing if there weren't so many flaws Starting with the horrible coffee. You can get better java at 7-11 than that swill. Obviously they are cutting corners by using the bare minimum grounds, just enough to get the water to change color. A ludicrous, overblown and repetitious menu. 8 solid pages of small print basically repeating over and over small variations of the same dishes. YOU CANT CRISP THE %#&*@^& BACON??? HOW DO YOU SCREW UP BACON!!! So yeah, shitty bacon. Not just poorly cooked, it was really cheap, low quality thin bacon that was a flabby, anemic disappointment. Home fries were so-so. Omelet was thrown together very carelessly. Mushrooms were the featured ingredient, and there was exactly ONE sliver of mushroom in that omelet. "Specials" written in highlighter taped to EVERY wall. To read them, you would have to wander around between tables and lean over some poor diner to read them. There were no less than 20 "specials" taped up all over. When you have like, 200 items in your menu (not exaggerating) you need this too? Also, the place has two dining areas with different entrances, so you can't even get to whatever culinary nightmares are taped to the walls on the other side. Probably for the best really... Zero ambiance. White walls and lots of handwritten "specials" taped all over the place. Brusque, bordering on surly waitstaff. One positive; the price is reasonable for a large breakfast. It would be more reasonable if the food was any good.
(2)Kayla B.
My cousin and I were looking for a good breakfast spot last minute on a Saturday morning. so of course I go to my trusty yelp app and realize I have this place bookmarked. I know how people get with breakfast on the weekends so I called ahead to see if there was a wait. When the waitress shortly said "no" and hung up I was thrown off but I still wanted to try sorellas. When we got there it was kind of confusing to find but we eventually found the steps upstairs to the restaurant. It's a really interesting vibe. It's basically an apartment turned restaurant. The menu is fantastic though!!! There are pages and pages of options from sweet to savory. I find that most breakfast places really focus on one or the other, so to see so many creative options for both palates was dope. I have a sweet tooth so I went with the cornbread French toast. And OMG. The cornbread is so moist soft and flavorful I didn't even put syrup on it. The whipped cream and strawberries were enough. My cousin had the Scott's Special I believe it's called. The 3 eggs, home fries, bacon, and toast. Boring, but she had no complaints and she is a picky eater. The staff was very nice and I will definitely be back there soon. It's cash only though which sucks because I never carry cash
(4)Mk E.
Sorella's is the best place to get breakfast in JP. Possibly anywhere. (I dunno, I guess there are a couple other continents? I haven't visited them all.) Everything is delicious, the menu is huge, and the prices are as right as they get, particularly if you make it in time for an early bird special. I recommend the raspberry butterscotch pancakes, and I don't even LIKE pancakes. Plan ahead on the weekends, as the place gets packed (though they do open up the second dining room).
(5)Leesha Z.
We stumbled upon Sorella's on a late Sunday morning expecting there to be a wait. We walked in and to our surprise, there was plenty of seating. Sorella's looks more like you've just wandered in to your grandmother's house. The decor isn't all too great. Mismatched and bland. I could care less though, I was there for the food. The menu itself is massive. So much to choose from! After about 5 minutes, I decided to order the breakfast burrito and my boyfriend got the cornbread french toast special. My burrito was massive. I could only get through about half before tapping out. The flavors were good but there was a little too much cilantro for my taste. The cornbread french toast however was out of this world. It was fresh, moist and it came with the most delectable home made whipped cream on top which I could've just eaten that alone. Huge portion again. All of this came to about $25 with two fresh squeezed OJ's on the side. Not bad at all. I'll come here again for sure to try maybe their crepes!
(4)Andrea L.
I would eat here all the time if I could! So many choices and everything that was served looked delicious, as were my ginger, blueberry, hazelnut pancakes. Owner omnipresent and helpful. Great neighborhood legacy business in a sea of newcomers to JP.
(4)cath e.
Kind helpful w children Homey not fancy( who cares?) Quick service when it's not mobbed All kinds of choices for omelets and spicy choices for hot stuff people Locals are very happy here
(4)Ross L.
One of those places that's instantly familiar and where you feel instantly at home. At the entrance there's news articles praising the pancakes along with Zagat ratings too. The plain old regular pancakes were some of the best I've ever had and there's a ton of fancier varieties to chose from too. Egg was scrambled perfectly. The prices and portions are also extremely reasonable.
(5)Yvens G.
Not impressed... no care was put into mt breakfast. Best part was finding what seems to be a eyelash in my food. ...and in the 2014 they do not accept credit/debit cards.
(1)Nikki C.
Atmosphere was EXTREMELY loud. I has to yell at my friend sitting across from me. Service was slow and poor. The menu reads like a book. I was overwhelmed. Food is ok. Not high quality or inspired, but ok. Not stuff you can't get anywhere else. I got the steak tips and eggs (poached). The steak tips were dry, chewy and not cooked how I specified(medium), well done. They appeared to be precooked, then seared, they were luke warm. Home fries portion was skimpy and potatoes were not cooked fully, still mealy and a little hard. My poached eggs were also well done and not properly poached, both yolks were solid (disappointing). My poached eggs were also put on top of my toast, making the toast soggy. The coffee was also terrible. It tasted a bit like soil. I ate with other people and we were unable to read the hand written reciept we were given, other than the total in black sharpie. A friend, who coincidentally arrived at the restaurant for brunch 15 minutes later, boasted her meal's and home frie's superiority was due to the fact she was a regular. That doesn't rub me the right way. I'll go back if someone else insists, but I wouldn't make the effort myself.
(2)Anthony L.
(Breakfast review) Before going to Sorella's, do yourself a favor and tap into your cravings before you go in. The menu is daunting, but in a great way. It's *HUGE* and there are other random choices that are scattered on the walls. Seriously, huge. My experience very much reminded me of Seinfeld's "The Soup Nazi"... when my waiter (a really nice tall/large man) came over, I felt the urge to say, with a straight face, "PUMPKIN PANCAKE - COFFEE - WATER - SYRUP" without even saying "please, thank you, and may I have." Whatever, it's their culture and I need to adapt. The portions are large and the food is, wait for it, amazing. Everything is reasonably priced, which brings me to the next thing, it's cash only... bring your cash.
(4)Alex J.
Went for brunch this weekend and immediately regretted it. Staff was clearly overwhelmed, so we got bad food and worse service. The polenta dish I ordered was bland and poorly conceived, and the banana walnut french toast was an offense to the very idea. It was more like pieces of dense banana bread thrown on a griddle. Took an hour to get a refill on my tiny cup of coffee. Don't waste your time.
(1)Ad P.
Wonderful neighborhood gem. Come with an empty belly, leave with a full one and your taste buds satisfied. Try fhe Texas French Toast, pumpkin walnut pancakes, and the Neptune Omelet (among the 9 million options...)! Tip: go early; cash only as of 2014.
(5)Dan G.
I can't believe I haven't written about Sorella's yet! Been coming here off and on for the past few months and I love it. Good luck finding parking though if you decide to come during peak times. The downstairs room can get REALLY hot as it is very small and a little too cozy. The wait staff are always amazingly friendly and full of love, I love them! The food is delicious and huge, plus they have a ton of very creative omelets to choose from! Or make your own. One thing that makes me sad...they always forget part of my order :( and are usually so busy that they still forget it :( :(
(4)Hannah R.
In my mind, there are three downsides to Sorella's: 1) it's cash only, and 2) they don't serve bloody marys, and 3) there must be 100 menu items at least--so hard to choose! I lived down the street for awhile, and I ate here nearly every weekend. Someone mentioned in their review how fun it is to see OKCupid morning after dates happening there--I can attest that it is a great game to play spot the awkward. The food is always filling, and even if you ordered the same thing every time, it would probably be different with each order. The variety and creativity of the ingredients is truly amazing, and no one would ever expect it to judge this place from the outside. I highly recommend the Neptune omelet. It has seaweed salad in it!
(4)Yelena Y.
I think this place is over rated. Staff is incredibly friendly bit the food was bland and boring.
(3)Joseph Z.
Terrible service and very mediocre food. We were not told the hours and then rudely rushed in and out. Looked like a quaint family place with interesting and appetizing menu items that turned out to be a major disappointment. Avoid this place if you can.
(1)Adria R.
I'd give this place 2.5 stars if I could. Not great, not horrible. I really wanted to like it, because I love non-fancy/non-trendy diners and this is definitely neither. I also like a little quirk, which this place had. I didn't mind the weird/random decor and the menu was certainly an entertaining read. The good: We were able to be seated right away at 11am on a Sunday. The wait staff was prompt, if not particularly friendly. There is no lack of menu items, quite the contrary. If you stick to the basics, eggs, toast, etc. you'll probably be satisfied. The bad: -They only accept cash. -The coffee was horrible. Poor flavor and so weak that when the server came to refill I held off (which I never do), because the coffee was the color of strong tea. -The menu is too large. This isn't always a bad thing, but there must be some organization to the menu items (rather than dishes comprised of randomly thrown together ingredients). And the list of ingredients they have to keep on hand is so extensive that I would question the quality and whether they even have a kitchen/pantry big enough to safely accommodate it all. -The food was mediocre at best. My omelette was missing the avocado it should have had in it, and my husband's omelette was about twice the size of mine with the same amount of ingredients. Both omelette's had a HUGE pile of chopped RAW garlic in them. I love garlic, but this was So. Much. Raw. I'm still tasting it near bedtime. The bacon was undercooked, and the home fries were unevenly cut and mushy. All this said, if I lived nearby and didn't have to go out of the way, I'd probably go back. Maybe I'm a glutton for breakfast that I don't have to make myself!
(2)SR F.
Several years ago my wife and I went to Sorella's and hated it.. wanting to stay local today, we decided to give it another try. What a pleasant surprise.. move over Mike's and Victoria's ( Center St Cafe is now closed). We arrived just before the kitchen closing hour, but my finger wagging wife prevailed and they were kind enough to accommodate us. ( We had called and seating is open until 1:30, nonetheless). Shared a great Denver omelet, fresh squeezed oj, has browns close to perfection, homemade muffin, real butter ( all was very good and the muffin was great!) Two faults: better coffee, and for me the perfect breakfast place has to have homemade corned beef for the hash and bathroom was unkempt; ergo the 4 stars. We will be going back.. menu was varied with creative selections, too late today for the specials ( corn bread french toast??!!) ummmm picky ones ~
(4)Karen R.
To quote my friend: "This place is so JP that it almost hurts." And she would be absolutely right. I was super impressed by the extensive omelette menu (which included many vegetarian options). I ultimately settled on an omelette that had capers in it (yum!). Service was generally pleasant and efficient. I deducted 1 star for two reasons: It drives me crazy when places are cash only and the interior was a little confusing (we definitely entered through the wrong door). Overall, I'm looking forward to making a return trip.
(4)Margaret N.
We went to Sorellas yesterday for a late morning breakfast and had one of the most disappointing dining experiences I have ever had. Our waitress was obviously "in the weeds", eventually (after at least 15 minutes) a guy came over and took our order. We asked for refills on our coffees (when we left 60 minutes later we had still not received the coffee we continued to ask for). When breakfast arrived 3 out of 4 at our table were served, no mention was made of whether mine was on it's was. The maple syrup we ordered (and paid for) also never arrived for anyone's order. I eventually (at least 5 minutes later) asked if my meal was coming- the guy went to check, came back and said it would be another 3 minutes. After 5 minutes he came and delivered an unordered (and unwanted) bowl of fruit to tide me over until the pancakes were ready. This fruit had quite obviously been removed from another table, there was butter on the orange slices and was just a disgusting offering. 10 minutes later he delivered my pancakes in a take out box, we had mentioned that we were running late and he took it upon himself to assume I would prefer to eat my pancakes in the car???? He dropped our check, they are handwritten and completely illegible (probably why the kitchen never got my order in the first place)- he told us we had not been charged for my breakfast however when we did the math it was quite obvious that we had been (along w/ $6 of maple syrup that we never received). Because we were in fact in a hurry we just paid and left (leaving the now unwanted to go pancakes). While I can certainly understand honest mistakes this was probably the worst string of events that I've ever experienced in a single meal. Throughout the entire process neither our waitress or the guy who had continued dealing w/ us were remotely apologetic or helpful. We will never go back to this sorry excuse for a restaurant.
(1)John S.
Dude, who designed the menu for this place? It's longer than those receipts you get at Shaw's that come with like 70 coupons for shit you don't need! Actually, in some ways, the menu actually reminds me of those receipts. The people who have served me at this place have always been friendly...even when I have to ask for help navigating like 20 food items that are all labeled 'funky.' It all looks good, so I always go with whatever tell me to eat. If you don't feel like warming your server up in order to get high end food, bring your overly social / enthusiastic friend(s)! That's what I do. I met the Big Guy who worked there for 15 years...he's still working there. He told me a legend of a time not so long ago when JP wasn't filled with aging hippies and baby boomers and whatnot. He said it was rad and that the crowd at Sorella's was actually cool. It made me feel like I was in on the whole thing - part of the cool table just for acting like I was interested! It was an unmistakable feeling of superiority that took over my stomach and mind, but coated in so much reminiscence that it was difficult to digest... Anyway, my food was pretty good, too, and at an acceptable (if not particularly amazing) price point. So why is it that I don't totally want to go back? Maybe I just get the feeling that this place is Past Its Prime like so many of its patrons? Maybe I don't need that level of nostalgia with my breakfast? Maybe I'll stop back in a year or so, sooner if the other places in the area go out of business. I really can't be bothered to go back sooner.
(3)Sarah H.
I really like Sorella's, but I don't have high expectations for them (does that even make sense?). The food I've ordered has been great every time, but I've experienced friends or people sitting around me who had orders that tasted terrible or contained things that shouldn't have been in there. The staff are very unfriendly (don't expect any smiles or politeness) but I'm able to look past it as long as they aren't downright rude. The receipt is NEVER legible, and don't even bother asking them for one that's clearly written (or you'll get attitude). I usually have to ask them to clarify what exactly I'm being charged for to make sure I'm not being overcharged. The food itself is really good as far as I'm concerned, which is what keeps me coming back. And they have TON of choices! Also, they rarely do substitutions, so if you're a picky eater I wouldn't recommend this place.
(3)Lily B.
Wow, what a disappointment. My friend and I met up at Sorella's for breakfast on a Saturday morning. First, we ended up in the "no waitress" zone and had to plead for someone to take our order after 15 minutes of no attention. I ordered a breakfast burrito - that should easy, right? Instead I got a eggs mixed with sliced tomatoes (sliced? in a burrito?) which were cold with other vegetables that were also cold. And the burrito was folded as if a 3-year old did it and was stale. To top it off, my friend's sunny-side up eggs were delivered with the yolks broken - huh? Sub par food, sub par service, super sub par experience. What a shame.
(1)Jessie S.
I came here with my buddy for lunch and was not disappointed! I ordered a sandwich from the front of the menu, it had no name but consisted of egg, tomato, avacado, "hoomus," pepper, an unlabeled cheese and other stuff I can't recall. There might have been sprouts? Anyway it was delicious - while the ingredients were nothing special in name they were of impeccable quality, you could taste how fresh everything was and the flavors complimented eachother wonderfully. My vegetarian compatriot asked for a menu item with no meat and our server immediately offered to replace it with tofu or tempeh which I thought was kind of amazingly considerate. Good simple food done well with delightful staff. I'd return here!
(4)Gillian W.
I feel like some of these reviews must be talking about a completely different restaurant than the one I visited today. Sorella's is brightly decorated in a sort of Mom's kitchen way that I found very inviting and comfortable. The gentleman serving the dining area was attentive and friendly. The banana chocolate chip pancakes were the best pancakes I have ever had! They were somehow crispy on the outside and cake-like on the inside! My boyfriend also enjoyed the Chicago omelette. For a person who rarely takes a moment to observe their food before inhaling it, even HE had to note that the vegetables were perfectly cooked. I did not have any of the "brown water" coffee that everyone on here is whining about but I cannot imagine it would be anything offensive enough to lower my rating. We will definitely return :)
(5)Emily M.
This is a fun place to get breakfast! There is a huge menu with a lot of unusual choices (butterscotch raspberry pancakes was my most recent breakfast there). Don't forget to check out their choices all over the wall! There are a lot of good ones up that aren't on the menu! Their irish breakfast being a good example (this breakfast takes up four plates). The only thing I would say to stay away from is their crepes. There are many options that sound good, but the crepes themselves always have a weird chalky dry taste. Every other meal I've had here I've loved. Don't forget to bring cash!
(4)Laura A.
this review is for their omelette's and toast. the omelettes are original, FULL of awesome fillings (e.g., goat cheese, pine nuts, sprouts), and there are so many choices that it's hard to go wrong. coffee is sweet to order, lil' mugs with lil' cups of cream. prices are good. service is ok...did i mention prices are good? yum.
(4)Jeff O.
Been coming here for a few years now. The food is always quick and tasty. You might find yourself waiting outside for a table on a busy saturday, so pick a warm day to go. The menu is filled w/ crazy options most of which are time tested. I am a big fan of any of the pancake / french toast options on the menu. Sometimes the omelets can be a little too crazy for me.
(4)Jessica F.
Dear Sorellas - I have worked in restaurants since I was 15 (8 years). I get it - it's a Monday-holiday brunch and you don't have more than 2 people on the floor. I'm not expecting speed or attention - barely even friendliness. What I did expect this morning was a pancake WITHOUT plastic wrap in it that I almost choked on. Even then, not that bad, because things happen, but I expected an apology when I pointed it out! I expected the replacement pancake to have chocolate chips in it like the original order, but neither of those things happend. I didn't want sass when I asked for a fork after you took my first one. I don't care that you're cash only and don't use computers, but when I ask for a legible receipt so I could ensure that you weren't actually charging me $4 for that SINGLE pancake (you were), don't give me even more attitude. This isn't the only time I've had trouble at Sorella's. Impossible with substitutions (if you're going for the vegetarian special you HAVE to get multi-grain pancakes when the Big Guy's aunt/mom is working - obviously all vegetarians are HEALTHY), moldy fruit on the waffles, and inattention to food allergies. Additionally, potato hashbrowns have cheap seasoning and are rarely cooked through, the coffee is more expensive than something that you can find elsewhere in JP that is either organic and/or fairtrade, and you charge 1.25 for anything other than American cheese. I've overlooked all the above things for years because I like to solicit small family restaurants, but after today, never again. Enjoy that exuberant tip we left you despite all of this bologna because it isn't your poor server's fault that you never have more people on, but I will pay twice your outrageous prices at Centre Street or City Feed from now on.
(2)Christine V.
Best breakfast place in JP! You have to go at least once. They only accept cash and have been in business for 30 years. The nicest people work here. The food is homemade and delicious.
(5)Peter G.
Sorella's is a great little restaurant to come for breakfast in JP. The selling point here is the range of the menu options: there is nearly an overwhelming amount of quality breakfast choices. We enjoyed the Eggs Rockefellar and a steak omelet: both were delicious and obviously hand-made with fresh ingredients. Surprisingly, I thought the food quality exceeded the price they were charging for it. The restaurant has a strong following, so be prepared for a wait during peak hours. Downsides: namely the size, especially downstairs. It can get cramped, and it's unfortunate that so many people enter via the downstairs, providing a constant draft during the winter and standing very close to sitting patrons. Although we walked, I didn't see much in the way of parking besides the street. Also, not accepting plastic is inconvenient. All things being equal, Sorella's gives arguably the best value of casual breakfast in downtown JP - you can't go wrong with this menu. However, despite the food quality, the price is indicative of the restaurant's drawbacks. If they only had more space, this would be a solid 4.
(3)T C.
We've lived in JP for 10 years and go to Sorella's a few times a year. It's usually a quirky, tasty, and reliable place. Not fancy by any means. This morning, was really gross and disturbing. Two of our meals (both involving eggs) had hair in them. And then when we tasted the pancakes and waffles that we ordered, they tasted really foul: sour and not fully cooked, perhaps spoiled. We told the waiter and he seemed unconcerned. We encouraged him to have someone taste something made with the batter so that they wouldn't serve anything made with it to anyone else. He didn't really respond. At least they took the cost of those items off the bill. And all of the food was served cold. It's wasn't very busy. My hash was also super soggy. But we won't be back, ever.
(1)Allison B.
I had been looking forward to trying this place for a few weeks, sadly - wasn't even given the chance to do so! I stopped by on a Saturday to be greetly rudely by what I can only assume was a waitress. She quickly yelled out to me and my boyfriend that we had to go "3 doors down." I was taken a back as there were FOUR empty tables and turned to see what my boyfriend wanted to do. Before I could even asked, she yelled once more at use. Needless to say, we left and didn't "go three doors down." Very disappointed and would NEVER try this place again.
(1)Cagen L.
The idea of Sorellas is great. Reasonably priced creative dishes with great ingredients. Unfortunately something is lost in the execution. The food comes out quickly but there is little to no pride taken I'm the preparation. Its like some one who loves food designed the menu and then it is cooked by interns. If you need a quick breakfast and don't care how it tastes this is the place for you other wise steer clear.
(1)Nicole C.
This was one of the worst breakfast I've ever eaten. From the moment we sat down and brown swill water was placed in front of us, I should have known that we should leave. For one thing, despite the plethora of vegetarian and vegan options, the potatoes tasted like they had been in bacon grease. I didn't mind (since they were otherwise entirely flavorless) but the vegans in my group were displeased. I ordered the Acapulco polenta dish, which I was quite excited about. I expected it to be flavorful and fresh tasting (swill water aside). Instead, I was given bland polenta with no sign of the advertized jalapeno peppers. The guacamole tasted like diapers and (bizarrely) it was topped with broccoli, bland mozzarella cheese, and marinara sauce that had clearly just been opened and poured on top. Umm....what? It was disgusting. The others at my time didn't fare much better, although my partner's pancakes were decent. The horrible food aside, the service was ridiculous. The restaurant seems to be severely understaffed so the staff takes an intensely focused approach to managing everyone's needs. What these actually means is that bring you disgusting coffee (which they'll only refill once before charging you for a second cup) and then they ignore you for 25 minutes while they deal with other tables. Then they descend on you, brusquely demand your order, and bring your food out quickly since, you know, they just open up some cans and jars. The restaurant itself would possibly be charming if it weren't so dirty. The decor is a mix of Christmas bow, fake flowers, and "art" that looks as it it were taken from a Holiday Inn. I used the restroom (meh) and got a glimpse into the "cleaning closet". It was covered in a thick layer of grime and general filth. In retrospect, I realize that I didn't see a health score posted anywhere. Yes, it was cheap, but then I spent more money on decent coffee and a snack to get replace the awful taste in my mouth. Never. Again.
(1)mzamar x.
Another of the "am I missing something?" group. The food here is just sort of unspectacular and sometimes downright not good greasy spoon kind of affair. Also, as a bonus, I often feel nauseous when I leave. Like, are they washing the glasses out? Why are people so into this place? In a word, no.
(2)Fernanda P.
Great food! Loved the Toni's omelet. Live in JP and will definitely come back
(4)Sarah S.
The reason that this place has either 5 or 1 star depending on the reviewer is that they have an excellent menu that that cannot do justice to on the weekends. There is a huge selection of omelets and pancakes to chose from, and they're delicious - if you go at a time when they're not so busy that you are served cold undercooked food. They expanded their dining area but not their kitchens about 3 years ago, and compounded their problems. The service on the weekends is slow, and the food is often undercooked or shoddily assembled. Go on a weekday morning and you get to experience what they are capable of.
(3)Amelia E.
Pretty good!! SO many choices of things to eat!!!
(3)Erin H.
People seem to love this place, and in a recent visit, I too enjoyed the large omelette with huge potatoes on the side. I went on a Sunday, a popular time for the brunch establishment. While chatting with my friends, I kept an eye on the open tables; I did not want to take too long at my table talking if there were people who were waiting to get in. The whole time I noticed that a few tables maintained empty the entire time: a table for four and a couple tables for two. I was shocked when we were then hurried out and asked to pay because "there was a line outside." Really? A line? Then why the empty tables? We paid and left, and told the people waiting outside to complain because there were empty tables inside. I probably won't go back.
(2)Tori O.
Do not get the vegetarian hash. It was terrible and looked like compost. The only interesting thing is the fact that they have basically everything you could want to be put in pancakes or an omelette but quality goes down with the increased quantity. It also is very cheap but there are much better places.
(2)Korri Leigh C.
As long as you can handle the A.D.D. process of trying to figure out what you're going to order, the food is awesome. Sorella's is a perfect hungover Sunday brunch. You will be happy no matter what you choose after pouring over the huge menu and/or trying to pick something off the crazy walls. Be patient with the wait-staff, I know from experience that brunch service can be frazzling. Frazzling is that even a word?
(4)Mitchell B.
It's by far one of the better breakfast joints in the Boston Area.
(4)Amanda D.
Sorella's is the best breakfast place around for those of us that live in JP. The Center St cafe is in close competition, but their operating hours put Sorella's ahead by 1 point. Sorella's has the kind of creative breakfast menu that makes your mouth water while you try to figure out what to order. Whether you like savory or sweet when you first wake up, they have it all. I really like their crepes and omlettes. And fresh OJ too. While I have been quoted a wait time of 20 minutes on a weekend morning, I have never waited more then 5-10 minutes.
(5)Elle R.
Sorella's has the worst service I have ever experienced. I went in on a weekday morning with two friends. Only a few tables were occupied and we were seated right away. And then the nightmare known as "customer service at Sorella's" began. We waited 5 minutes for menus. We had to ask the waitress for them twice. After another 5 minutes, she took drink orders. Three waters, one small orange juice and one large orange juice. She comes back with two small orange juices and no waters. It took asking her four times and 45 minutes to get water to the table. It was almost as though she was avoiding the hell out of us. Two tables were seated while we were trying to get her attention to order food. She took their orders before ours! We sat there for 45 minutes waiting to have our orders taken. We were on the verge of throwing $5 on the table and walking out to get food somewhere else when she finally took our food orders. The food was good, which is the only reason this restaurant gets stars, and didn't take a lifetime to come out. Our waters came with the food, but the waitress never checked in to see how it was or if we needed something (which, of course, we did... since our table lacked jelly and other condiments). Luckily, we had asked for the check with the food and she brought that speedily enough. I will never return here again, even though it is close by. The food does not make up for the unbelievably sub-par service. I got faster service from stoned hippie waiters at dive bars in Portland, OR.
(2)Matthew M.
I like Sorella's. Though the quality of the food is nothing special, the sheer variety of interesting and unique items on the menu makes up for it. Where else on earth can you get macadamia-banana-peanut butter pancakes? Even though you might be able to make a more skillfully executed meal at home, it's worth paying the modest prices at Sorella's just for the chance to get inspiration from the menu, if for nothing else. If you're in JP and it's time for brunch, don't pass it up.
(4)E.G. S.
Go to this place. You will almost not want to go anywhere else for breakfast again. On Sunday there may be a wait so bundle up if its cold. They have the most interesting combination omelets and pancakes on the planet. ordinary stuff too but you can go anywhere for that, right?
(5)Kristen G.
Some of the most interesting and exciting breakfast options I've ever seen. If you're looking for a fun, decorative atmosphere in which to have your first meal of the day, this is your place. I've gone with large groups, and the food always comes out moderately fast and accurate to how it was ordered. Try this place sometime.
(4)Lacey P.
This place has a kooky kindergarten atmosphere. Yeah they have 2 floors and an awe inspiring menu. It is vast and wide. But I feel like the waitstaff can't get it together, and I always wait a long time for my food and it is sometimes wrong. But there is very little breakfast going on in JP, so I guess this is tops.
(3)sandra q.
Sorella's is a homey, affordable joint. Their selection of omelettes and pancakes is huge and I love their Oatmeal-Carrot-Walnut pancakes! The staff is down to earth and friendly, you might even be called 'Hon'. There's always a line out the door and the place is always bustling.
(5)Kristina M.
What a disappointment! Having read all these raving reviews about their breakfast/brunch I headed out there on Saturday looking forward to a yummy brunch experience. Instead, I left feeling very dissatisfied. For one, even though they have about 300 options on their menu, there was exactly ONE dish that they were willing to make vegan. Hey, as a vegan I am used to being restricted in my food options, but I would have appreciated a little more willingness to accommodate us (especially since they explicitly encourage customers to inquire about specific dietary requests). Anyway, I would be willing to be forgiving about this if the one dish they offered would have at least been good. But it wasn't. The tofu stir-fry was pretty bad, the ingredients didn't look like they were high-quality or even fresh, and I had to pour a lot of hot sauce on it to be able to eat it. It wasn't exactly horrible and didn't make me feel sick either, but it was definitely not something I'd usually pay for. On top of that, the service isn't particularly friendly either (one of the waiters was OK, but the other was really quite grumpy). They also charged 5$ for an orange juice, which they claimed was freshly squeezed, but which in fact clearly was from a bottle. All in all, a really disappointing experience. (Admittedly, it might be a much better place for non-vegans, and I like the diner-style, which is why I give it 2 rather than 1 star, but as a vegan I can only say: Don't go!)
(2)Kyle F.
i love your fantastic brunch foods. so tasty tasty. but i hate your stupid lines.
(3)Roberto C.
Like the food but the people act like they're doing you a favor. If you can put up w/tired little hs hussies - still tipped them, but they can have someone elses bidness next time. Btw, almost every time I've been here either there is a UFO floating in my water or there's some sort of chap stick/lip stick smeared across the rim of my glass. Do yourself a favor, go to Centre St next door.
(1)Exa V.
Let's get this straight. Sorella's is a diner. A creative diner, a cool diner, yes. It's still a diner. It's dirty like a diner, almost as cheap as one, and the coffee is about that good (read: not very good at all). Furthermore, it's a breakfast/brunch place, so show up after 10 and yeah, expect a wait. I've been to Sorella's twice and will definitely go again. I've had the vegetarian hash and eggs over medium, which was solid, and a #9 omelette with broccoli, tomatoes, red peppers, and jarlsberg cheese. Also solid. Some could complain that the vegetable chunks are way too big, but I love me some veggies and don't mind much. The flavors of both dishes were great, although I found the hash a little disappointing--I wanted more flavor in the tofu. I like the service--it's semi-efficient, heavy on the coffee and tattoos, and funny. I like the waitresses. On my last venture we had a very strange man who sat next to us. The waitress dealt with him very well, and we all had a good laugh afterwards. The menu is overwhelming huge, so I would suggest figuring out if you want savory or sweet (read: eggs or pancakes/french toast) and figuring it out from there. Or just have polenta. Whatever. The list of pancakes and french toasts looks fantastic, but I never end up ordering them for some reason. Probably because the omelettes are so awesome looking too--except for the ones with nuts! Who puts nuts in an omelette, for serious?! Anyway, I love Sorella's. It's a cool place. Yay.
(4)Jamie A.
oh man, oh man, oh man! talk about CHOICES! this place has more than you've ever imagined for breakfast! On a darling street of JP right next to the Animal Hospital and the Milky Way, lies Sorella's, a little hole in the wall rounding the corner. I had read about it in my MAP BOSTON planner, so I was all psyched to try it out. I recommend going with one of those friends who loves putting both your plates in the middle of the table and sharing everything. We couldn't decide on sweet or savory, so we ordered the Gingerbread pancakes (w/ sour cream & fresh strawberries) and Toni's omelet (goat cheese, spinach, portobellos, sun-dried tomatoes, & sprouts on top). DAMN. Those pancakes were INCREDIBLE. I swear, sour cream is the secret ingredient to making everything more amazing. The omelet was also tasty, but we agreed that we like our omelets to have every ingredient in each bite, and the ingredients in this one weren't chopped at all, so they were rather awkward to eat. But anyways, be prepared to pour over a GIANT menu--complete with more specials ALL OVER the walls, & also be prepared to sit for awhile, as their service consisted of one girl. yeah. Plus, they've got legit coffee that you can drink black, which is a huge plus in my book!
(4)Pickle P.
I really want to like Sorella's, I really do. After all, 10,000 lesbians can't be wrong! But friends and I have had too many raw veggie omelettes and the coffee is truck stop swill. One friend said flatly, "That was the worst breakfast I've ever had." They should edit the menu and concentrate on getting the basics down. Don't be fooled by the line of hipsters in those silly skinny jeans outside smoking Camels, they're not old enough to know better.
(2)Lynette M.
Interesting breakfast options tons of pancakes and omelettes. I preferred the pancakes. Sometimes a weekend wait...
(3)Daniel M.
Don't heed the doubters. Sorella's blueberry pancakes own. That is all.
(4)Paul M.
The only reason I can't give this 5 stars is because of the ridiculously long wait for brunch on sunday. And the wait is long...expect to spend at least 30min waiting for a table. You can make reservations before 10am, but come on who is up that early on a sunday. This is pretty much the most perfect breakfest place ever, it took me forever to decide what to get because everything sounded so good. And it was. I may have to make Sorellas an every weekend kind of thing.
(4)Melissa B.
Holy cow, this place is awesome. Excellent breakfast foods & worth the wait.
(5)Thuy L.
Have you ever gone for brunch and wish there was more of a selection? If so, you haven't been to Sorella's. Talk about a wide selection, 4 pages of front and back brunch selections. Ten different bread choices for French toast; 30 different kinds of omelette options with every single kind of combinatioions of ingredients possible, and various breakfast burrito options. Portions are huge here. I got the James omelette with tomatos, spinach, gouda, artichoke hearts, olives, garlic, and about 5 other ingredients. My omelette was a little runny and the ingredients were not spread evenly through the omelette. There were portions of the omelette that had more artichoke hearts than others, portions that had more gouda than others, but it was pretty good. I also got a side of bacon--a litte bit greasier than normal but hey, it wasn't that bad. Aside from the slow service and the fact that they do not take credit cards can make it a little frustrating, but there is definitely something there for everyone.
(3)Alex M.
A friend and I took the T all the way from Cambridge to get pancakes here and it was worth it. That should tell it all. The portions are huge for reasonable prices, the staff are friendly, the atmosphere is comfortable, and the pancakes are delicious! Vegetarian friendly, for sure. Too small for groups, but great for a cozy breakfast with a friend, or intimate.
(5)Amanda S.
I can't believe it has taken me this long to try Sorella's- I will definitely be back. Omlettes were huge & packed with fresh veggies. I had Toni's Omlette with portobello, spinach, sun-dried tomato, and goat cheese, served with toast & great homefries. The menu has something for everyone whether you're looking for the average breakfast sandwich, or something a little more unique (lots of pancake, fresh toast, and omlette choices). The space is small, but homey. Give it a try! Unfortunately- cash only.
(4)Laura A.
hmm, what to say about sorella's...i really really like it. everyone needs a little grease in their lives and you'll find it here. i like that they have vegan and vegetarian options. i like the lack of wait and the townie kinda attitude. it's the dirty dive of brunch places. however- my stomach ALWAYS feels upset after i finish eating here..i suspect they cook the homefries on the same grill as the meat or something because (as vegetarians on here know what i'm talking about, i'm sure) something just didn't sit right in my stomach. do i give it four stars for having a dirty grill? no...i'm giving it four stars for having vegan options, truckstop style brunch options for my gluttonous boyfriend who loves meat, and for brunch for four people totaling less than $30. and for having fucking POLENTA for breakfast. POLENTA! i love that shit! and covered with vegetarian chili no less...yum. avoid the home fries, veg-people!
(4)Sarah S.
Yes, Sorella's has a "kooky, kindergarden atmosphere"--I'll give them that. But what lies beyond that, I'll tell you. Their breakfast options are so sorted, so random and wild, that the staff almost improbably follow suit. For the past several times I've eaten there (because it's the closest breakfast joint to my boyfriend's house) I've either been turned down at the door ("Sorry, we just closed"--Even when people have obviously just been seated and are still reviewing the menu!) or it's taken me extra-long to be seated. Yesterday was the final straw & that's why I'm writing. The wait was 30 minutes; and just as we passed this half-hour marker, all the parties after us were seated, well, before us, prompting my boyfriend to ask a waitress what's up. She said there were two tables ahead of us. How could that be? We'd gotten there over 30 minutes ago, done our penance, and now were watching everyone we observed arrive go break bread ahead of us. Of the food, the selections are great, but the quality is hit or miss. Sometimes my eggs are runny when I wanted them scrambled; my hashbrowns not cooked enough. And, what's worse, they're stingy with the napkins. Come on, Salmonella's. Stop being so schizo. Seat your patrons, serve your patrons, and don't gimme no lip. Make that with a side of extra napkins.
(2)L-Train A.
Sorella's is a place that gets five stars in many categories, but then also has some one star stuff going on. They have an insane number of different kinds of omelettes. Insane. And the food is pretty darn good overall. It is kind of fun too because it is physically eclectic. It was originally two row homes, and you kind of weave around through different rooms to get seated. They ought to play this up, and make it feel kind of homey and cozy, but they don't. The one-star stuff is that they just aren't nice to you. Not mean per se, but just no warmth, smiling, etc., and I kind of feel relieved when we are done and it's time to go so I am no longer bothering these people by being in their restaurant. And the coffee is mediocre, but refilled constantly.
(3)Heather K.
Sorellas is one of JP's hidden gems. Yes, it's kind of divey, yes, it's small and cramped, and yes, the waitresses can be a bit sassy but these qualities are all part of the charm. The omelet and pancake/french toast options are vast and I've never ordered something that I wasn't 100% happy with.
(5)Christine C.
If I were writing this review a few years ago, it would have been much better. I used to think that this was the ultimate breakfast place. What changed? Well, I tried it again recently and was disappointed in the service (it took a VERY long time to order and get water filled) and the food (underdone food and a weird taste on the bread). I actually tried it TWICE thinking that maybe they were just having a bad day. It was bad both times. Sorry, Sorella's...
(2)Katie W.
I am not sure what all the hype is about Sorella's. The first time I ate there I must have been influenced from rave reviews and the overwhelming menu. I ordered Andrea's Omelette and thought it was great. I ate there a few more times, ordering other things such as pancakes (which must have been cooked next to an omelette because they tasted like garlic), some vegetarian thing with tempeh which was nasty, and french toast (also tasting of garlic). I don't know if it was the fact that I noticed they put the food that's ready to be served in this little window down by the cook's feet, but the next time I ordered Andrea's Omelette I thought that was gross too. So if you don't know whether you want sweet or savory next time you go out to breakfast, head over to Sorella's and order yourself some pancakes.
(2)Rachel G.
i used to live a block away from this place and it was dangerous! every weekend, forget waiting on the insane line to eat there...we would call ahead and get take out and eat in the comfort of our home with cartoons and pjs! the simple egg sandwich is perfect...however...it's all about the banana peanut butter muffins. they are beyond heavenly. like, freaking amazing! i've tried to make my own recipes and they just don't come out the same. the price is right as is the coffee. a nice little tough to jp!
(4)Tim B.
My girlfriend and I prefer Centre St. Cafe for a basic breakfast but if you want a little something out of the ordinary Sorella's is great.
(4)Bri T.
cheap cheap cheap! good food and (once you are seated) quick and friendly service. although it could be cleaner -- this is overall a great brunch place!
(3)Paul I.
Great breakfast spot! Make sure to go on a weekend or holiday, when you can get into the upstairs. The menu is HUGE.. full of specialty omelets, pancakes and french toasts. And the walls downstairs are covered with additional menu items, dreamed up by customers, no doubt. The waitstaff is polite and kind, if not always prompt. Their mimosas have no orange pulp -- so pulp lovers beware! :)
(4)Gail L.
Imagine EVERY ingredient possible, then choose about 10 or 12 of them, then have it made into the most tasty omelet you've ever eaten. The menu doesn't begin to hold all the options available to you...the walls are covered with many, many more, named after friends, employees, relatives and regular customers..it's a family run business, and they all work here. Fresh squeezed juice, vegetarian hash, and more kinds of pancakes than you've ever thought possible. My favorite...pumpkin cranberry walnut...you don't need syrup, but you can have fruit and whipped cream on top...only drawback is the coffee...not very good
(5)Stephen S.
Sorella's is completely the jam for breakfast if you know what you are doing. Tiny crazy space crammed full of people and rad waitstaff, lines half as long as the ones for Centre St. Cafe, and the pancakes are like basically doing it in your mouth they are so good. HERE IS THE PROBLEM: They have a lot of crazy omelets that look insane and wonderful but which are just sort of like a pile of ingredients in an egg sleeve. So, for example, you might order the "Jennifer's Special" (or whatever) and then it comes and you take a bite and it is all EGG + RASPBERRY. But then the next one is just EGG + CASHEWS, and then suddenly you are wrestling with an entire half-avocado sitting in there and you slump over because the point of an omelet is that all the ingredients are friends, co-mingling with each other in a big egg playground. SO If you are a breakfast spartan like me and like your eggs over easy then it is a great place to go, but ALSO it is a good place to play a BREAKFAST PRANK.
(3)mike G.
Really good breakfast. We got omelette's a split an order of banana mango pancakes. I the pancakes were good but I don't think its the best combo to order, and my eggs were a bit runny. Also, we had to wait for 40 minutes and it took a while to get our food. Overall I would go back. HUGE MENU!
(4)Day B.
It's really hard for me to even give this restaurant three stars, because every time I go there something happens that isn't cool. However, they do have good food, so that counts for something. Otherwise, I cannot recommend them. First of all, I don't find their staff to be very friendly, and this is based on several visits over 4 years. They never smile it seems. Second, their food is way overpriced...to add blueberries to the pancakes, I've seen them charge $3-$4 extra, and that's unacceptable. Third, I've seen my order get messed up more than twice. Perhaps this stings more becuase I tend to go on the weekends, after I've been waiting a while and I'm hungry. I'd recommend going during the week or when it's not busy to avoid any problems.
(3)Heather Q.
Eh. It's the place you go to show off to your out-of-town friends how cool JP is. And you will. I know you will. The menu is large and varied, and sounds good in black and white, but I've found the execution to be lacking. The pancakes are dry, and if I recall correctly, you pay extra for syrup. The waitstaff is more than a bit flakey. I've waited as long as 15 minutes for my check because nobody could remember to get it for me.
(3)John D.
The menu at Sorella's raised my hopes for a delicious brunch, but ultimately, and on multiple occasions, I have left severely disappointed. Overall, the food is rather bland, but well put together. The prices are decent. My most serious misgiving is the service - AWFUL. They refuse to seat a party of 3 waiting for a 4th, and once your group is actually seated, you're likely to get one of their disinterested, unhelpful wait staff. Aside from the fact that the staff seem to hate you from the moment you enter, they are slow slow slow. Another disappointing brunch experience.
(2)Sophie R.
Why is everyone so obsessed with Sorella's? Yes, they have a shitload of different options for your omelette or your waffles, but who cares if none of them are very good? Omelettes are stuffed with so many veggies (often still fridge temperature, I should add) that you can barely taste the thin layer of egg stretched around the bulging mass of innards. The toast served with your omelette will actually be soggy wonderbread, barely what one could call toasted. Your waffle will be topped with canned whipped cream that will have melted into a puddle on top of your defrosted strawberries or gelatinous blueberries, and will be served with crappy HFCS-laden "pancake syrup". Your bacon will be fatty and undercooked, served in a pool of its grease without draining. And Sorella's isn't even that cheap. If you got something with none of the fixings that might make it edible, or at least interesting, it'd be reasonable, but in that case you may as well just go to JP Licks for their Sunday morning waffles, and get better coffee to boot.
(1)Julie F.
Sorella's is family owned and operated-something that happens to be rare now in Boston. Sure sometimes there is a line but so what? If you get there on the earlier or later side of weekend brunch then you won't wait. The choices are unbelievable. Now i read some complaints about the service. My family is from JP and we always say hello and talk to whoever is serving us and we have never had a problem. The problem is when college age students come in to a family eatery and talk at the top of their lungs, cursing,etc. I wish the staff would be meaner and kick out those folks to tell you the truth. Though not perfect, it is a little taste of what having a neighborhood bus. is like and worth the experience. If you want 5 star everything then pay a whole lot more for your gentrifying experience. Oh! if you want to get a vegan breakfast in un-vegan friendly Boston then this is the place. While you may not be able to eat the pancakes there are more vegan options then just a bagel so you won't feel hungry while your non-vegan friends are eating.
(4)seana m.
Sorellas is my all time favorite breakfast/brunch spot. Sometimes the wait is terribble but I typically stick it out becasue the food is so good. It is cramped, not super clean and the staff isn't the friendlist. But the food rocks. I love the blueberry pancakes. They have mat, veggie, soy, endless coffee (high test and decaf), fresh squeezed juices, so many omlettes I can't even count em...and lots lots more.
(5)Sean E.
This place makes me long for good ol' JP. There's really not that many things that do that to tell you the truth. I can totally understand someone thinking Sorella's is a bit overrated. But I've had so many breakfasts out and about in this town and not many can beat Sorella's. And just like many places, the reason is simple. Fresh ingredients. Fresh fruits and veg, fresh breads, nuts, and a fresh and unique menu. Their french toasts are wonders to be reckoned with -- you can get 'em with french bread or challah, and probably a couple others that I can't remember. Yes, the place is popular on weekend so be prepared for a wait -- but of all the times I've been there it wasn't get any longer than 10 minutes max. It's also true the waitresses can be a bit surly, but never offensive. With food this good that's okay with me. Writing this makes me want to Zipcar my butt down there pronto. Oh, and the paying for syrup line that someone wrote on here earlier is a laugh. Peanut butter and banana pancakes *drool*...
(5)Bonnie G.
Sorella's is to Centre St. Cafe as: a)Rod Dees is to Brown Sugar Cafe b)Tello's is to H&M c)Rodney's book is to Brookline Booksmith d)Trader Joe's is to Whole Foods I think you're getting the point. Located at the rotary at Centre St. and Perkins St. (39 bus stops, 41 bus stops, Jackson Sq or Stoneybrook T stop on the orange line), this randomly two stories (random cause the two stories aren't on top of another) serves breakfast that will satisfy your hangover anger and lethargy. Around the corner (kind of) from Centre St. Cafe, one does love the polish and amazing organic food they serve (plus the host who looks like Anthony Keidis), but Sorella's got moxie and a resigned efficiency (kinda like when you stop by your friends house and her mom makes you an apple cinnamon pancake and plops it on your plate in silent resentment but you dont care cause it tastes good). Before you go, grab an iced coffee from Junebag Cafe across the street (or stop by JP Licks for some) and while you are at it grab juice- a large bottle of chug costs 4 bucks! I prefer the downstairs, but grab a host right away to get your name on the list and be prepared to wait (this is when your drink comes in handy). You can also call them ahead of time for reservations. They can sit two people or like ten. They have insane menu options scrawled all over the walls in lamenated slips, chalkboards, like fuckin Memento. These are ADDITIONAL to your menu! Special notes: On their omlettes option, you can replace the egg with tofu! All you vegan-heads out there-do it! I have tried a lot here, but the Nutty Pancakes (chock full of all kinds of nuts and chocolate chips) taste like Baklava and the best. Cheap ass mimosas. The waffles are fluffy and freeze well (I tend to overorder, ok?). They have special breads for the french toast. The omlettes are gigantic and I have yet to see anyone finish one. The home fries are a little too big, but not too greasey and definitely satisfying. Cash only. And yeah, take your out of town friends here to impress them, then take a walk around the pond. Nothin wrong with that.
(5)Nicholas C.
Reasonably priced, relaxed breakfast spot in JP. Friendly staff that didn't rush us. I had the basic 2 egg, homefries, and toast (4.95), which was delicious. My friends had more complicated dishes, which they actually weren't so fond of, but my dish was soo good that I'll definitely be back.
(3)matthew h.
I've been here for breakfast exactly once and although I try not to rate places after only one attendance I couldn't help it in this case. The breakfast menu is wicked freakin' huge. It's not even like a "oh look, they have a southwestern omelette," but rather a "holy crap you can put that on an omelette???" I'm sure not everything on the menu is bruncherific but show me a menu this big that is. I plan on bringing a notebook next time to make a list of the things I've tried. I see that some people have given the servers less than stellar results but ours was pretty good. We had to end up bringing the check up to the register but they were in the middle of a big table turnover so it was no big deal. I can't wait to try it again.
(4)Aimee S.
I love this place. They have so many breakfast choices, it's quite hard to decide, but well worth it! Reading the menus gave me some great ideas for stuff to make at home too! The coffee was great and the food was tasty and well priced.
(4)Matthew A.
Horrible hole in the wall with overpriced "gourmet" pancakes. Yeah right. Why do they serve tap water in old yellow plastic tumblers. Sitting shoulder to shoulder. Grungy looking female waitstaff with nose rings. I think I would rather eat at home. Thank You.
(1)Kevin M.
This place is good... better than Mike's (In the south end)... but a little pricier as well... most items aren't bad (pancakes, french toast, etc..) but the fresh squeezed orange juice is $5! (They also offer the bottled Garelick OJ, a better value). The signs on the tables are written in magic marker on spare construction paper! But, the place has character... service is spotty (Some good, some not so good, but what do you expect?) Overall, good experience! Bathroom was VERY clean, which scores extra points in my book. and if you go, try the oatmeal pancakes... very light and tasty!
(4)Meg K.
Massive portions, a creative menu, and great prices. Sorella's is my favorite place to take overnight guests for weekend brunch. You can get a platter-sized omelette with any combination of breakfast meats, cheeses, herbs, and vegetables, and breakfast breads with nuts, fruits, and sauces (gingerbread french toast was a recent favorite). There are plenty of vegetarian options as well. They have bland hash browns, but you'll have so much other food on your plate that they are unecessary. If you want a whole avocado or 5 strips of bacon in your omelette, or you think it would be fun to try brie and asparagus with eggs, or pumpkin pancakes with whipped cream cheese, try Sorella's. The service is hit-or-miss. You definitely want to be seated in the first-floor room. The last couple of times we have gotten the woman we refer to as "the worst waitress ever". She forgets parts of your order, and gets grumpy when you ask, "can I please have my toast now?" There also tend to be long waits, but a sign on the door says they have begun taking reservations. All in all Sorella's has a terrific menu and great prices, with mediocre service.
(4)elizabeth l.
go to sorella's for an unparalleled and unexpectedly delightful breakfast experience, complete with yummy food, bitter coffee, sweet artwork, and a surly waitress (if you're lucky). with oodles of options, you'll be able to choose from the most unique selection of omelettes, waffles, and pancakes i've ever seen. keep in mind that this place is completely unpretentious, and the wait staff will probably ignore you. more likely than not, you will hear someone yelling in the kitchen. this is all part of the charm of dining in a restaurant that feels like someone's dysfunctional household. i recommend locating the bathroom because you get to practically walk through the kitchen to find it. you may laugh, you may cry, but you are guaranteed to have an unforgettable time.
(5)Will C.
Sorella's is pretty damn good. The first time I went, I had hash and eggs, and they were awesome. They have great pancakes as well. That's all I really need. Hash thats not soggy, eggs cooked the way I want with a little cheese on top, and the option of some bomb pancakes. You do that well, automatic 5 stars from me. They're menu is pretty extensive outside of that too. My friend got the eggs rockefeller that looked effin tops. My only complaint is that their home fries have gotten progressively worse every time I've ordered them.
(5)Gary L.
This place is pretty spacious, with three different rooms, one on the bottom floor (looks dark and smokey), and the other two on the first floor (bright and clear). The menu is large, including pancakes, muffins and omelette's, and all the American classics. Now, the omelet section is divided into FOUR sections. First I was impressed. However after reading further, I realized that the ingredients were all the same, but shuffled in different combinations. I looked for a omelet with meat, and most are vegetarians. (What?) I settled for the Chicago omelet, with spinash and bacon. Came with tasty potatoes and toasts. Everyone seems to be pretty happy with the breakfast. I guess this place is not into meat...?
(4)Allison J.
Good service good food. We loved our waiter, Vinnie. I love the handwritten menu items on pieces of paper taped to the wall. But it's hella confusing and the menu is giant. Very cute place with great service. Characters... they're all characters. Love it. Portions were generous and the pancake assortment dizzying. Not the place to come to if you're on a diet.
(4)Julia C.
I found this place to be unremarkable. To me, every item on the omelet menu seems to be a smorgasbord of random vegetables, with similar ingredients mentioned in different orders for different dishes, but named differently. Also, there weren't enough omelets that involved meat -- a big negative for me. I'm sure I could've customized an omelet to have meat in it, but I don't like hassling waitstaff with modifications, plus I like having plenty of meat-incorporated options already laid out and described in juicy details on the menu page. The place seemed to be a hit with the vegetarians in the group I went with, but alfalfa sprouts need to stay the heck OUT of my breakfast omelets.
(2)Meg C.
If you like grumpy people serving you great omelets and pancakes, I have a place for you. Sure, this is not the place to go when you want to be coddled, but it is great for cheap, comforting food. The menu is huge and I kind of wonder who would order half the mixtures offered. First things first, you have to ask for the real maple syrup. I noticed that the regulars asked for it up front, they didn't even wait for the fake crap to show up at the table. We started with a muffin, grilled of course. I believe it was mango and ginger, the flavors were not overbearing. It was really, reeeeally good. Not too sweet or dry. I split banana pancakes and a denver omelet with my cousin. The pancakes were divine with the real syrup. I'm super picky about pancakes and almost never order them at restaurants, but these were great. Nice and fluffy, not tough at all. They came with bananas in the batter as well as fresh slices on top. I want to try the gingerbread next time, they sound heavenly. My omelet was solid, the veggies were cooked until just tender. The eggs were not overcooked, a regular mistake at many diners. The potatoes were kind of forgettable, as was the coffee. If they could just fix those two things, I'm sure it would be a 5-star business. Go on a weekday and you might not have to wait in line for an hour.
(4)Vera K.
I really enjoyed my meal here with my friend. The atmosphere was nice, felt like being at a family member's house. My omelet was delicious, there were plenty of menu options, including scrambled polenta, which is a nice gluten free/egg free alternative for breakfast. Affordable! Seating was a little tight, felt like everyone next to me was hearing my conversation. Homefries were less than delicious. 2 customers had a melt down next to me after their order wasn't taken fast enough and they stormed out, which resulted in one of the chefs in the back coming out and grilling everyone if their orders had been taken, and the rest of waitresses frowning. I thought the customers who left were totally out of line to be so impatient, but the staff's reaction almost made it worse.
(4)Evan G.
Possibly my favorite thing about Sorella's is their awning which says DINNER BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER. Why is this notable? Because they don't serve dinner. At all. Ever. What they are is a diner, and whoever got that awning made just can't spell. On to the food-- this place is great if you get the right things. They have a huge menu, but most of it is omelets with various combinations of ingredients. I usually get one of their really simple eggs and toast breakfast specials, which are hard to mess up. My eggs have always been cooked how I asked, and the homefries are awesome! Super crispy and flavorful. My breakfast buddies have ordered some pretty crazy omelets, and those are typically good too, especially if you really like a large filling-to-egg ratio. Coffee is endless and light roast. I like the endless, I do not like light roast, but given its quantity I can get over my nitpicky coffee-snobbery. Fresh-squeezed OJ is really delicious and worth the $3 or whatever it costs. Service here has usually been quite competent and efficient, with some good local sass thrown in for flavor. Patrons really run the gamut from the elderly to the tragically hip youth JP is so known for.
(4)Jef S.
Finally...FINALLY...got to Sorella's! I've been wanting to go for quite a while. I had cornbeef hash and eggs. Eggs were tasty; the hash was sort of disappointing: very ground up, tasty, but not quite, I dunno, hash-y enough. Lacked some flavor. Home fries were okay...I'm glad I read up before I went here because I took the well done and extra pepper advice (and salt) and it worked out fine. My companion got (get this) pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes and graciously allowed me to taste. AMAZINGNESS! Oy, I wish I'd ordered those. Everything was just ok here. The room is small, clean, and reasonably no-frills. Service was fine but nothing special. Indeed, nothing distinguished Sorella's from any other diner style restaurant in Boston that I've been to...EXCEPT FOR THEM MOTHERF***IN' PANCAKES! Overall, Sorella's gets 3.25 stars, but I'm eagerly ready to adjust this upward on my next visit.
(3)Meena M.
I have been to Sorella's many times, but am not sure if I will go again. Their food is cheap, the menu is expansive, and the portions are big. But they don't taste amazing. Actually, is tastes like something I make at home. Some times what I make at home tastes better. I don't really recommend it if you are looking for good brunch. You should go to Centre Street Cafe or Bon Savor for good brunch.
(2)Caroline C.
How can you not love Sorellas? They have pancakes in EVERY FLAVOR. And I don't even like pancakes and I can still appreciate how exciting this is. But not just pancakes - omelets, french toast, sandwiches, crepes. The worst part about Sorellas is making a decision on what to eat. I'm not sure why a few people are griping about service . . .it's brunch, people. What's the big hurry? Heck, half the guests are in sweatpants or pjs. Brunch is about relaxing and catching up with your family and friends, not rushing though your lunch break. I've actually never had a problem with service - and I really appreciate the fact that they will go ahead and seat your friends, even though you may be twenty minutes or so late (Sorry, friends. I know it happens a lot. Sunday morning is hard.). And they never rush you out the door, even though you finish eating an hour ago. (Moreover, it's not like Sorella's pretends to be fine dining. It's an adorable, gruff, brunch place. Staff should not be fawning all over you, especially when you are wearing sweatpants. That would be weird.) A few specific recommendations: Do NOT have the vegetarian hash. It's is not delicious. The almond/kiwi/apricot/seasame seed french toast, however, is beyond tasty. So is the orange juice. The coffee is just okay, but passable and is always refilled.
(5)Linda H.
Went for brunch today. Decent prices, but things do add up. Food was decent. As reported by others, they give you decent-sized portions. Lots of different options. Omeletes are fairly large. Lots of fillings in them, but a bit bland. But, better that I add my own pepper and ketchup than to have it too salty I guess. Also, if you're debating about the corned beef hash, my dining partner reports that it's from the can. Nothing spectacular about it I guess. So, a good option for breakfast if you're local and looking for a fairly inexpensive place with lots of choices.
(3)Russ A.
I had visions of a new favorite breakfast joint when I walked into Sorella's for the first time and started flipping through the expansive menu. With specials like cornbread french toast, avocado in almost every dish and loads of veggie options how could you go wrong? Lets start with the good. Their coffee is decent and the server came by several times to refill my mug. Also, the breakfast sandwich I ordered was pretty solid (egg/cheese w/ avocado, sprouts and lox on everything bagel). What made me give this two stars is the fresh fruit bowl I ordered. It was pretty much the opposite of "fresh". The strawberries were mushy and had rotten spots all over them. The cantaloupe, kiwi and honeydew were previously frozen and mushy to the point where it almost fell apart on my fork. I guess my biggest gripe is that they advertise this as "fresh" when it's obviously not. I might go back again, but would stay far away from anything with fruit, which is a shame because their pancakes with fruit sounded pretty awesome.
(2)lizzie b.
I really enjoyed looking through the menu. That alone could have taken like 25 minutes. I think it's a little spastic --- you have your omelettes, your exotic omelettes, your omelette specials, your super crazy omelettes. How many items can you fit into one omelette? I got #4 -- which had avocado, spinach, portabella, gouda... I think there was mint in there, tomatoes.... The problem is that it was basically a mix of veggies with omelette on top. I'm more of a baked-in type of omelette girl. Homefries were okay. So, decent overall. But I'd check out some other JP gems before I went back.
(3)Ariana G.
Huge menu selection... Three pages of different omelettes... Made for a lot of reading, but two of the pages were all with garlic and in my years of eating and cooking, eggs and garlic are just not a great mix! File my order in the I really know better box! Will go back to try one of the items from the three pages some of the pancakes.
(3)Cassie H.
We went here for an end-of-the year breakfast with a group of us from work. I was anticipating such great breakfast greatness that I think I built it up for a let down. The place is pretty small, but our large group was seated in a private room when our organizer made a phone call for a reservation. Their six page breakfast menu blew me away. Their non-stop coffee is pretty decent, although I was wired for the rest of the day after two and a half cups. The table of us ordered all sorts of goodies from the menu, and the food came out hot although very staggered (again, with a large group, I can't say that it's not expected). I had the French Toast special: two slices of Texas French Toast (I'm from Texas, and I'm not sure what makes their french toast "Texan"), two eggs my way, home fries, and my choice of protein. The bacon I ordered was super thin and greasy. The home fries were cold and unflavorful. My eggs were cooked pretty perfectly. The french toast was hot, but lacked the sweetness I've come to expect with my favorite french toast joints. The price was pretty sweet with most dishes around $6/person. All in all, it was worth experiencing, but I'm not so sure I'll be back.
(3)Kari C.
Sorella's has everything you could want in a Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch place. Cash only for this wonderfully brunchy goodness. Decadent omelets the size of your face make you more full then you ever thought you could be on eggs. They also have a ton of stuff for you veggies out there. They aren't very expensive, so if you want to fill yourself to the brim, this is the place to be. The service is friendly but a bit slow, which is why it's a 4 rating, but you will always recognize friendly faces. The more you go in, the better service seems to be
(4)Clare D.
The first place I ate at in Jamaica Plain when I moved. Amazing omelette full of cheese and fresh veggies, very good size. They also do serve mimosas now, well made ones. The service was very entertaining-stereotypical diner types, quirky but nice. My friend got the French Toast, I don't recall which kind of bread but she could pick from 8 kinds. They only take cash and their hours are kind of erratic. It says open for dinner but I've never seen them open past 2:30pm. Great little place with very good food. I've been back twice since (now November of 2011), in the span of two days. The food continues to be solidly good. Tasty french toast, corned beef hash and savory crepes have filled my belly happily. The mimosas went up in price but are still yummy. The service is still a bit surly and sassy but not in an unpleasant way and they didn't mess up any of our orders or make us wait very long once we sat down. We did have a long wait for a table on Veterans day for brunch since many people had the day off but on Saturday morning we didn't have to wait at all.
(4)christine c.
Dive-y little breakfast place. Fast, cheap, easy...Cash only. SO MUCH ON THE MENU IT IS INSANE. Best fresh-squeezed OJ around. I am a Sorella's believer. You can't do Sunday brunch in JP any better.
(4)Mister Chub S.
The menu is SO LONG! with so many choices it's a bit overwhelming. A lot of the meals have 5+ fillings and while they're tasty, it's just too much. I'm happy that my omelette is filled with onions, peppers, goat cheese, dried cherries, avocado, carrots and diced broccoli but I can hardly distinguish all of the flavors because there are so many. It's a cute set-up- it was like I was in someone's house having brunch because that's pretty much what it was. It was laid-back and cozy in there. A little overpriced for what it was.
(3)Brian D.
Sorella's is a fascinating, throw-back like restaurant. It's like eating in someone's dining room, in fact I'm pretty sure part of it was once a seperate apartment that got added onto a restaurant. The food is always interesting. They come up with huge numbers of interesting combinations out of a relatively small kitchen, and if you like creative pancakes or french toast it's excellent! Both the Gingerbread Pancakes and the Cornbread French Toast are terrific, and the Sorella's Mozzarella (french toast with spinach, marinara and Mozzarella) is a big hit with me and my girlfriend. The waitstaff is a mixture of good and just okay, but they're all flexible and will work with what you want. The atmosphere is very "hipster" with college and yuppie mixed in, but that describes that entire section of Jamaica Plain. There are drawbacks. The one thing they don't do particularly well is meat in/with your breakfast. Corned Beef Hash is interesting one visit, and dull the next. I've ordered side orders of sausage or bacon and they've been bad or badly cooked. Burned or undercooked. It's not like it's a vegetarian place, but if you like some protein with your hot breakfast carbs, you may be disappointed. Still, if nothing else the restaurant gets three stars for creativity and unpretentiousness.
(3)Claire W.
Seriously? Wow. I loved the corn bread French toast and sausage I had. There's fifteen other things on the menu I wanted to try. Agh, this place is amazing. Baby, I'd cross state lines for your sweet corn bread goodness. The corn bread was soft and the perfect amount of sweetness, not breakfast cereal overload. The cranberries and whipped cream are a happy couple on top. I will note the strawberries that were mixed in on top were very weird. They had a fermented, sour tang and I had to scrape them off. Not sure why. I'd guess the berries were not sweet to being with (ya know when strawberries look awesome in the grocery store and then you eat them and they taste unripe and sharp?). The french toast was awesome without them. The sausage was a generous portion and had a lovely spiced greasy softness when I bit into it. A perfect breakfast sausage. Sorrella's, I will be back. Oh yes, I will.
(5)Vincent M.
Really good oatmeal chocolate chip pancakes and a hell of a good bacon and mozzerella omelet. Servers are super friendly. One negative: their menu is huge!! Seriously over 100 items! Crazy crazy stuff. Took me a little while to gaze over the menu. Overall: Great place, fast food, good service.
(4)Cyn C.
I went on a Tuesday morning, so I didn't have to wait in line at all. This diner is old school, with your momma's crockery (from the 80's... you know... the white plates with the brown etched trim from corel?). There are about a gazillion different types of omelets, of which I tried the portugeuse (portugeuse sausage, ricotta and feta cheese, mushrooms, and tomatoes, served with spicy salsa), which includes home fries and toast. The platter is bigger than your head, and looks like a 6 egg omelet. We ate at 11am, and I didn't feel a hunger pang until well past 7pm. So, for less than $10, you can basically eat for the entire day. Loss of one star for the thin and uncrisp bacon (the guy at the next table ordered a side of bacon. Being a bacon lover PLUS being naturally nosy, I made sure to take a peek when the order came along). However, I can't wait to try some of the special french toast and pancake creations here! ETA: loss of one star. After going back a few times, I needed to dock a star. 1) slow service. you'd think a busy place would have faster service to get quicker turnaround on the tables... slow was also bad, since I never got refills on water. 2) weak weak weak coffee. If I go out for brekkie, i need a good cup of strong joe too.
(3)Jocelyn G.
I agree with Jenna C. Every time we've been to Sorella's, I've been sick afterwards. We went back a few times to see if it was just a fluke, and it happened each time again. Don't waste your time and money here.
(1)Caitlin I.
As someone who eats breakfast food more often during dinner time, I have to say, going here for breakfast was a nice little treat. The boy and I decided to venture out for breakfast on a Saturday morning and this place is right around the corner, so bonus points for not having to trek my lazy sleepy ass any further early in the morning. The menu is well, ridiculous to say the least. They have everything and anything your little heart could desire and some things I'm pretty sure I would never want to consume in my life. But there are also mimosas for less than $4 which was enough to make me consider having a strictly liquid breakfast. Portions were way more than I could handle and after eggs, toast, potatoes, AND sausage, I was put in a mild food coma. The food is basic (at least what I had) and I could probably make it at home if I tried hard enough, but let's face it, you go out to eat to avoid having to cook for yourself. I'm a big fan of anytime I don't have to stand in front of a stove and make food. Service was a little slow for actually getting the food, but the boy got his refills of coffee whenever it was low which is apparently very important in early morning coffee world. It also was a little hard to find the waitress when it came to getting a box for leftovers and the check, but I suppose I'd rather wait for that than my food. Slight drawback is that they only take cash which isn't a huge issue as long as you remember that before you get there. As strange it was to be eating breakfast in the morning for me, it was still a good time. The company you have helps make this place what it is.
(3)Seth B.
Closest breakfast place to my house and well worth it. Very extensive omelets list. In fact, I've never seen one bigger. Great portions and a good price. There is often a line Saturday and Sunday and they're only serving breakfast. Closes at 130. Friendly staff. Well worth a visit!
(4)Rich F.
Last weekend the GF and I were here for breakfast and seated on either side of us were people who no longer lived in JP, but for nostalgia decided drag themselves back in order to have breakfast. This says a lot about a place. The woman to my right declared "the pancakes here are the best" and I would have to agree. One of the reviews here stated that the omelets seemed to be a random smorgasbord of veggies. I would agree with this statement. The omelet menu is not impressive. I would rather just build my own. The rest of the menu is a lot better. The French toast and Pancake Breakfasts are the gems. You can modify them with different types of options (chocolate chips, bananas, walnuts, carrot cake, and the list goes on). The coffee is decent and service is typically fast. Plus it is pretty cheap. The location is a bit out of the way for most people who don't live close, but if you are in the area I recommend stopping for brunch or breakfast.
(4)Kim P.
Worth the wait (though we didn't wait that long on a Sunday at 11:45ish). Loved the omlette with asparagus, artichoke hearts and asiago. Have also loved the cornbread french toast and will return to try the Italian omlette. I saw two go past me and they looked amazing--a heart attack on a plate, yes, but still--amazing. Just remember: CASH ONLY!
(4)Laura S.
More like 3.5 stars... The service sucked! The waitress took our glasses when we were done and never returned with refills and this was before we even received our meals. Since our waitress didn't bring the food to the table we had to eat our meals without beverages until our waitress finally got off the phone and off her butt! However I the food makes up for the horrid service. They have fresh squeezed orange juice that is so good I would just go there for that, but I don't have to since everything is good. I got the banana nut bread French toast. It was amazing, I can not even explain the joy I had with each bite. It was so filling! The person I was with had the chocolate chip banana pancakes with caramel and whipped cream topping (I think that's what it was called) he too loved his meal. We can not wait to go back, I want to try everything on the menu now!
(4)Tom H.
This place is odd: you'll never find a broader or tastier brunch menu, but the staff can be surly, and whereas some of the items on the menu are insanely good (e.g., all the french toasts and pancakes), some things are land mines (e.g., many of the omelets) and should ne avoided. But the good things really are THAT GOOD to earn 4 stars.
(4)David K.
The menu was extensive which made it hard to choose. The service was fun, and with personality. The food was solid and tasty. We are intrigued and want to go back to try something else.
(3)D E.
Food was great! Had french toast with eggs, bacon and potatoes. Everything was reasonably priced-about $6 for the meal. You received a nice portion too! Would definetly go back!
(4)Nadiva N.
I heard such great reviews about sorella's. But unfortunately I was highly disappointed with my experience. It appears dirty and untidy. The waitress was sweet though. The menu is indeed overwhelming with a never-ending list of French toasts etc. My pancake order was enormous, too much for one person, less than mediocre even with all the toppings. And then finally, to add insult to injury as I took a bite of my strawberry pancakes, I bit into a large piece of onion. That was enough to put me off completely. Definitely will not go back.
(1)Ashley K.
I went here because my roommates said, hands-down, this place had the best omelettes ever. I moved here recently, so maybe you guys have a different definition of what an omelette should be, but I've always considered it to be a nice, fluffy, folded over bunch of eggs with some filling inside. An omelette at this restaurant is more like a ring of eggs with tons of fillings on the inside. I got the mexican omelette, and I am the biggest guac lover on this planet, but half the omelette was guacamole. Kind of like eating hot guacamole, by itself. I've never before been able to say something had way too much guacamole in it. Same issue with the salsa - way too much. For a dish that's supposed to be mostly eggs, I'm not sure what's going on there. But it wasn't terribly enjoyable. Also, the toast was just weak. Itty bitty, kind of squished slices that reminded me a lot of Wonderbread. I can forgive weak food - maybe I should have just stuck with eggs over easy or something - but the service sucked too. I went with a friend, and he got his pancakes first, no syrup, just butter. And then we waited around for a few minutes, until my omelette showed up. Only then did it occur to the waiter that my friend might need syrup. Also, oddly, one glass of orange juice showed up five minutes before the other, and neither of us were offered (or given) water. At the end, as they were closing, we had to ask for our check... and then it still took a good 5-10 minutes before we got it. You'd think they'd want to go home, right? And it's not like they were overwhelmingly busy. I think there were maybe three tables left. I can do bad service with good food... and I can even forgive bad food if there's really good service. But they screwed up both. Not worth coming back.
(1)Charmie S.
Who likes to be disappointed? Not me. I ordered the French toast with eggs, bacon and home fries. French toast had way too much egg on it, so I went nuts with syrup to give it flavor. Eggs, I ordered over hard and they were. No salt though. Bacon, well, ya can't mess up bacon! Overall, not impressed. Perhaps there's more to be desired on their supersized And, no offense, but the spot gets no love for the dingy space. I think cleanliness, or at least the appearance of, matters a bit. But I could be wrong...Best things about this place are the menu pricing (french toast, eggs, bacon and home fries = $5.95) and fast service. For this kind of fare though, I'd give Victoria's Diner in Dottie a try!
(2)Kate S.
I was pretty disappointed with this place. I had such high hopes. The food was okay, but it wasn't what I wanted. I really had my heart set on pumpkin pancakes, and was told they were out (it was about 12:30pm). I also wanted some hot apple cider, which was posted as being available, but was told I couldn't get any because "she hasn't made it yet." Huh? The staff was so gruff and brisk, I was pushed to order something else right away (which is really hard cause the menu is HUGE) and got the pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes, which they did have, which tasted pretty good, but had way too many nuts. My sausage was way undercooked. I hope I don't get trichinosis. I finished my OJ before our order was even taken, so I then asked for a glass of water. The waitress looked really pissed to have to bring it to me, and the glass was never refilled. Like I said, the food's mostly okay, but I don't think it's worth waiting so long in the cold, dealing with grouchy staff, and possibly acquiring a parasite.
(2)S K.
Friendly service and comfortably casual (dingy?) enough to make me feel un-anxious bringing my young kids here. But, 2 stars off for putting peanut butter chips (i.e. totally synthetic "peanut" cookie chips) in the kids' peanut-butter banana pancakes. I ordered them so he'd get more nutrition than regular pancakes. Tired of American assumption that kids should eat candy for breakfast. That said, my spinach crepe was tasty. There was no line or crowd because it was so cold out, but I would not wait in line for this place.
(3)Meggie M.
I am a huge Sunday Brunch fan. When I'm in Boston, I can't fathom to go anywhere but Sorrella's. Ranging from delightfully sweet to scorchingly hot; they have delicious offerings for all taste buds. Along with the food, the atmosphere is adorably quirky. I've visited Sorellas several times at different hours of the day, and never had to wait for a long period of time. For me, that adds 10 bonus points.
(4)Don N.
Good prices, good food, friendly! Would come again.
(4)Tim W.
Notoriously slow. Served unripe tough avocado. Not worth the wait. It was just eggs! They also do not accept credit cards and close at 1 pm. The food is just not good enough to be worth all the hassle.
(2)Katie L.
SUCH a disappointment. Their food is bland at best and the eggs are the most disgusting eggs I've ever had, zero taste. Also they charged $1 for hot water with lemon... Really? Trust me, take your $$ elsewhere.
(1)Steph D.
Do not, under any circumstances go here on a Saturday morning! Because frankly, I don't want to have to wait any longer. Reasons I love Sorellas: Non-hipster waiters. Diet Breaker Pancakes. Eggs, made over easy, for real. Diner coffee. Awesome refill abilities. Sexy polenta. Wobbly tables, (because what's a diner without wobbly tables?) Goat cheese overloads. Sweatpants dress code. Tattoos. No pressure "fresh squeezed" juice. Not even $20 for 2 people. No cooking.
(5)Justin I.
This is one of our favorite breakfast places. Very cheap and an absolutely massive menu. They always have a crazy amount of specials going on too. The food is so good and the place is fun to walk or take a bus to because it's right down on Centre Street in JP. Great location and it never takes too long to be seated. The main dining room is pretty small but they have a couple of other spots where they can seat people when it starts getting busy. My favorites are the omelets, so many to choose from. I've had several different ones over the past couple of years and they never disappoint. Sorella's is as good as it gets for breakfast/casual brunch. You've got to check it out even if you're on the other side of town. It's worth it.
(5)Brendan H.
Prices: reasonable Omelets: amazing Pancakes: also amazing. All other breakfast items: fantastic. Service: friendly and fast Coffee: Horrible. I give this place five stars anyway. It's that awesome.
(5)Megan S.
I have a torrid relationship with Sorella. I sneak out early from my house on the weekend, get a table early and dig into the biggest, fullest, mixed-up omelets I've ever had in my whole life. Your imagination isn't ready for the things they combine in their omelets. And most of them include garlic and basil. Also be sure to enjoy the prize artwork on the walls. ; )
(5)Rachel J.
I hate to have to give you only 3 stars. I really like your crepes with the weird ingredients like "mango marsh sauce", whatever that means! There aren't that many places that will make crepes with blueberries and macadamia nuts together. I also like the wide variety of omelet combinations. Also the pancakes are amazing- pumpkin pancakes with cream cheese and strawberries are very good. And the prices hover around $8, cheap in overpriced Boston. So it seems like I really really like this place, and I used to, until I went there on a Sunday morning and waited an hour for our food, and then we finally just gave up and left. Give us a realistic estimate of the wait, don't just seat us and have us sit there for forty-five minutes!!!!! Ugh.
(3)Scott F.
Went back. I tried their Gingerbread Pancakes. They were great. The sour cream on the side was odd. As usual, I just couldn't finish everything. I either need a bigger stomach or smaller eyes.
(3)Luyi H.
OMG. This place is amazing. I ordered the...omelet named after a person with artichoke hearts, half an avocado (nomnomnom), more asparagus than I can handle, with mushrooms plus moz? cheese, topped with alfalfa sprouts. Then, it came with cubed potato hash and toast!!! All for under $8!!!! Wow. Great deal. The size of my omelet was HUGE, it was bursting with ingredients. They don't skimp, even if you choose the omelet with all the expensive greens. I'm a girl who loooves food, but I couldn't finish it all. I'm in love with this place, but it's soo far from where I live. :( Helpful tips. Bring cash, they don't accept plastic. And be careful of the molding on the walls. It juts out at an awkward hit-your-head height.
(5)Dave G.
I love love love this place. The pancakes are super, the service is great and the people who work there are nice and weird. It's a quirky family run restaurant with long weekend lines to get in, so don't be surprised if you have to wait on a Saturday: There is a reason for it. I find everything about it charming and exactly what I'd expect from a family run diner that's been around for 25 years. Ignore all the people here who are complaining about waiting, the service, atmosphere. They want a sanitized and pompous South End restaurant, not a neighborhood shop. I think the best part is the seven-hundred-ingredient-omelettes tacked to the walls. It's as if someone spun the wheel of food and made a list of the craziest combination. Go, you'll see.
(5)Dana B.
My friends took me here because they had been raving about it for months and I'd been dying to go. I don't know if it was too hyped for me, but I really didn't enjoy myself there. You wait a long time to get seated. You wait a long time to order your food. You wait about an hour to get it. My friend ordered something and was told they didnt have it. So she ordered something else. They burned it and then asked her if she wanted the thing she origionally wanted because now they have it...shady... Waiting for a while is less fun here because the staff just yells at each other all the time. And not in a haha i'm joking kind of way, but in a make customers uncomfortable kind of way. The food I had was pretty good. I did get a lot of food, but that is commonplace with most breakfast places now. I wish I had been a little more adventurous and tried one of their deliciously sounding french toast or pancake combinations instead of getting an omelette. The one thing it does have going for it is the huge menu of items.
(3)Katelyn M.
We waited 45 minutes in near-freezing weather for a table this morning. I wish that tables of 15 didn't exist for brunch on a Sunday morning... Anyway, the menu was extensive. I have never seen so many omelettes on one menu -- goat cheese, macademia nuts, garlic, basil, broccoli, tomatoes. You could get a gourmet plate (e.g., pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes) or something more close to home (think denver omelette or texas french toast). I made a mistake by getting a super-fancy omelette. Sorell'as is a much better place (in my opinion) to get specialty french toast (home-made banana walnut bread french toast) or pancakes than a super huge (the size of my head) omelette that lacks salt, butter, or both. I got my fill of veggies, but left wishing I had splurged on a carb-heavy, syrup-laden brunch. I will go back -- pineapple zuchinni walnut bread french toast just is too enticing not to (my DH disagrees...). But no more omelletes for me.
(3)Heather L.
Dear lord this place is terrible! I've always seen lots of people outside of sorellas so one Saturday morning I decided to try it out. The food was really bad. It was maybe comparable to ihop. The set up was pretty bad too. I was kinda confused an uncomfortable the whole time...but My waitress was great and attentive though. Still I probably wouldn't go back.
(3)Simona S.
Talk about a hangover. Exhausted and still very nauseous from late night debauchery I came to Sorella's today seeking the obvious: grease. Eggs. Possibly bacon. I could not decide between eggs or my usual: corned beef hash. I talked to the waitress and told her about my "situation" aka I had legitimately had nothing in my system anymore thanks to a solid night and morning praying to the porcelain god. She seemed to understand. Told me to go with eggs. I told her I couldn't choose an omelet. She asked me if there was anything I didn't like. I said blue cheese. I still have no idea what omelet I got. And maybe it's for the best. I was wishing it had meat in it until she brought a small little plate of corned beef hash for me. Which is why this place got four stars because service always counts. Always. And me and my cousins can be a rough bunch to deal with. But the menu actually stressed me out. It might make more sense to just do a "create-your-own" thing instead of stressing me out with dozens of options. Especially when I'm nauseous. Pancakes were awesome, we shared some blueberry almond, etc. concoction that I finished despite being rather full. The food here is definitely good, I just need to point out (like others have said before) that the omelets aren't exactly omelets. It's all of the amazing sounding ingredients cooked together with scrambled eggs on top. As long as you know what you're getting yourself into, you'll enjoy Sorella's.
(4)Andy O.
I have to be honest. The only positive things about Sorella's is the selection and the value. I ordered the Eggs Special and my potatoes were tasteless and too soft, unlike normal home fries which are typically a bit crispy. I've had better. The eggs were a bit runnier than I asked for but the sausage was very good. They also do not take credit cards which can be a hassle and cause a bit of an issue with payment for my friend so I had to cover.
(3)Jessica B.
Sorella's is a decent breakfast joint. There is usually only a five, maybe ten, minute wait. Although I've yet to choose a meal that I've liked. Usually my boyfriend and I switch plates because I don't like mine. This is because Sorella's often tries to mix sweet and savory flavors. This morning I had an omlette with artichoke hearts, asparagus, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, alfalfa sprouts, cheese, cranberries, and macademia nuts. I would have prefered it without the cranberries and macademia nuts. However, my boyfriend's pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes were divine!!
(3)Nicole S.
This place is going to become a sad addiction. I went here with a friend based upon a suggestion from a coworker. She did not steer as wrong!!!! We went through yelp reviews before going there and had some ideas for what we would get but once we got there and saw the huge menu we got overwhelmed- but in a good way. We decided out first venture there would be eggs. The food here was fantastic!!! The place is a mish mosh of decorations, settings, tables, etc but I figure that just gives it character. Our second visit was even better than the first. I got the banana peanut butter french toast. Now when I read that I figure I would get some think bread french toast with sliced bananas on top with a scoop of peanut butter on top.... well i was wrong. I got banana bread with peanut butter chips mixed in. Holy hell that was fantastic. Banana and peanut butter in every bite, plus the texture was amazing! Genius!!!! *Cash only*
(5)Beverly G.
Meh. I don't get all the love. It's all right; by no means great. On weekends, you can't get a table to save your life and the line stretches out the door, but I've never found it to be worth the wait. The omelettes definitely suffer from a "too many ingredients spoil the dish" problem. I like their andouille sausage, though.
(2)Linda S.
Advice for the breakfast fan who wants to sample Sorella's: 1. Get there early. The lines on the weekends are not a joke after 10:00 a.m. It's a small place and the food is great. Deal. 2. Get there early. The service when it's not that busy is awesome; if you're there when there are fifty thousand other people there, you might have to wait a little bit. Deal. 3. Order the pancakes. For the love of god, do yourself a favor, and order. The pancakes. Even if you want protein. Even if you want eggs. Bring a friend and split an order of those damn pancakes. It's criminal how good they are. Further, Sorella's has some of the best French toast I've ever tried. (Sidenote: Do not mistake their banana bread or hearty foodie bread French toast with real French toast. There's a lot going on there - too much for me. Make sure you're ordering some normal French toast with accoutrements, not a big ole hunk of banana bread fried in butter. Unless you're into that, which you might be. For me, it was a little much.) Their omelettes are a little busy for my taste, as they all include fresh garlic and basil - which I feel kind of overrides the flavor of what's going on with all the other delicious and varied ingredients you can get. (You can get many.) Sorella's has one of the most expansive menus I've seen at such a tiny little neighborhood breakfast place - hell, it's one of the most expansive menus I've seen at any breakfast place anywhere. They have tons of exotic variations on their omelettes, pancakes, and French toast, and everything is really incredibly reasonably priced (truly - one of the last few places in the Northeast where you can actually get a great, filling breakfast for under ten bucks, tip included if you're careful). I've always found the service efficient and friendly, and accurate. There was this one time when my waitress came off a little surly, but I smiled at her and was polite and then she smiled at me and was really nice. And they always get my order right, and they always make sure I have coffee or juice or whatever I want. So yeah. Hearts for Sorella's.
(4)Joshua B.
GREAT CHEAP EATS MADE WITH LOVE! At 12:15 yesterday we called to find out their hours and the lady who answered was very nice and told me they take their last order at 1:30. We got there at 12:30 and there were only a few people eating. I was ready for a ham and cheese omlet, which I admit seemed too boring with all they had to offer. My boyfriend had trouble picking, he settled with the JP Omlet which was great. Fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee.... it was great. The cute lady and the big guy who seem to run the place were accommodating and made us feel like we were regulars. First out drinks came up and about seven or eight minutes later our food showed up looking hot and yummy. In these few minutes the place filled up--including a party of six! Omlets were great, toast was crisp and buttery... home fries could use some lovin. We plan on going back, we were stuffed for hours. Dinor food without the greasy stomach ache. Next time I'm getting french toast!!! OPEN DAILY 7AM-1:30PM
(5)Fernando R.
I actually worked at Sorellas from 2004-2008 on sundays through out High school. The wait is long I am not going to lie. I had troubles getting people out. You have to understand their is 3 rooms at Sorellas the first one is up to 4 people sometimes 5. Same thing with the second one. The last one is for big tables. And also their is only one grill for the entire restaurant. So it does take time to make food. The food is good and fresh. I know they have a guy that makes produce deliveries on a Sunday! My favorite food is the Texas and Cha-Cha Omelette.
(4)Tyler C.
this place has the reputation....but the 2 times i've gone, the food has been....underwhelming. Maybe I haven't ordered the right thing. oatmeal pancakes w/ various fruit was pretty good flavorwise but not fluffy, and actually kind of heavy. Crepes were not that exciting. This place does have an impressive menu selection...but I think for JP brunch, Center Street Cafe still stands head and shoulders above all else for overall tastiness.
(2)Julie S.
I love Sorella's! Cheap, huge variety, attentive service. I always go here when family visits from out of town. I've tried many categories from the menu, and I've never been disappointed. I tend to stay on the pancakes/waffles side, but I think my absolute favorite is the homemade polenta with guacamole, tofu and salsa. There are many vegetarian/vegan modifications available. The coffee is OK but not extraordinary. Fresh-squeezed orange juice is pricey but a nice treat. If you go with children, there is a playground about 2 blocks away (walking up Centre, away from Perkins) for them to burn off energy (and maybe you can burn off some of that breakfast :)
(5)Jon L.
What a great amazing breakfast. I went in like a half hour before they opened and they where cool with it. I regulary don't get omlettes because they are something I can make at home, but after looking at all the amazing omlettes I went for one. It had basil, garlic, shallots, spinach, sundried tomatoes, salmon, boursin, fresh spinach etc. It was so fresh tasting. I would say the best omlette I have ever had. Extremely creative menu, well done!!
(5)Adam E.
Here's the thing about Sorella's. You have to order the right thing, cuz they have a few dishes that are perfect and a bunch that totally blow. You also have to be patient and wait for a table, and I think everyone here has done that at one time or another and survived. Personally, I think waiting is half the fun of brunch. You can chit chat with your friends and anticipate the best meal ever. You probably won't get that at Sorella's, but if you play your cards right, you'll leave very full and satisfied. The potatoes suck, they're boring. The scrambled eggs are runny and that is so not my thing. I always get the pumpkin pancakes with cranberries and nuts, with cream cheese and strawberries on top. It's expensive, but I've tried a lot of other dishes and that's the only one that works for me. The coffee is like AA coffee, which I can appreciate even though I prefer a dark roast. Basically, it's a solid 3-star joint. If you never make the mistake of trying one of their many substandard dishes you might interpret it for 4 or 5 stars.
(3)Vanessa C.
HOLY HORRIBLE BREAKFAST can I even put into words how disappointed I am in MYSELF for returning to this place for a second or third time. its around the corner & I didnt know any other places to go in JP for breakfast. but this was really just too much - LAZINESS DOES NOT PAY OFF, PEOPLE! where to begin.... the potatoes? undercooked and tasteless. the omelette? undercooked and tasteless. the side of veggies? I could count the number of leafy greens on ONE HAND for petes sake!!! OVERPRICED! the "varieties" of French toast? I think I got the pumpkin or banana who knows it all tastes identical but it is NOT French toast. DO NOT BE DECEIVED!!! it is like a slice of banana bread tossed onto a grill. SO DISGUSTING! even my overuse of caps cannot convey my disappointment in this place. moral of the story: good breakfast is worth the commute! I dont care if I have to drive back to somerville every sunday for the rest of my life, it sure beats the hell out of the crappy breakfasts I've had here. NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)Haley C.
There are a lot of items on the menu. Service is fast and the staff is extremely friendly. There are only a few vegan options, but i had a tasty vegan meal for pretty cheap.
(4)Rachel S.
Sorella's is really charming. The food is delicious- I took my brother there for his birthday on a tuesday morning and there was no wait whatsoever. From experience, I can say their Oatmeal Chocolate Chip pancakes, Cornbread French Toast with whipped cream and strawberries, and turkey sausage are awesome. I can't really believe how many people complain about this place. I've had one of the omelets and it was pretty great, too. If you're unsure of what to get and are afraid of all of the angry reviews, definitely go for one of their sweeter menu items- you won't be disappointed. update 6/21- I've now had many of the omelets & crepes and they've all been delicious. The homemade chicken salad has nuts & apples and was mighty tasty. Excellent turkey sausage and hash, too!
(5)Sean J.
Can you please fix the grammatical and spelling errors on your signage that's all over the place. and yes, i don't want sprouts, bacon, dates, and goat cheese on my western tropical omelet... Someone needs to do some editing.
(4)Meghan M.
There was no wait to sit, but it took a while to get serviced and for our food to be served. BUT the breakfast burrito was probably the best I've ever had. No credit cards, kind of annoying, but an ATM nearby.
(4)Shannon C.
My brunch confidante and I gave Sorella's 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for the imaginative mind that keeps coming up with new ways to combine some basic breakfast ingredients. I ordered pumpkin pancakes with strawberries and cream cheese. Sorella's menu makes you think, "huh. who thought of that?" Which means you may spend several minutes looking over the menu. Don't worry, the staff seems to be prepared for that! Too bad the coffee tastes like dirty water and the tables are smushed (word? if so, sp?) so close together a guy next to us almost knocked my friend's plate off the table. Still, a good breakfast option in JP.
(4)Hans M.
Ok, I cannot heap enough praise on how great this diner is. First of all, the menu is humongous. I have never seen so many different varieties of omelets and pancakes. The decor is kind of downhome neighborhood, with handwritten menu items on placards all over the place. I was a little worried they didn't have menus and I'd have to wander around the place just to read all the selections. I had a Mexican omelet and it was quite tasty full of peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, jalapenos, guacamole and a generous portion of salsa on top. I love to eat a huge breakfast and often will get eggs, bacon toast, home-fries and a pancake on the side. Needless to say the omelet here was so big I could hardly even finish it and was glad I didn't order that pancake even though my neighbor's did look great. What can be better than a combination of eggs and tex-mex. I found the wait staff/owners to be really friendly and curious about the ebook reader that at first was glued to my face - I was eating by myself, I usually don't think to talk with others while I'm eating. However, this was and exception as the clientele was a very diverse mixture of some of the friendliest people I've ever met in the Boston area. I ended up staying around talking almost two hours with a mother and her 10 year old daughter sitting next to me - who had a menu item named after her - the aforementioned pancakes. How cool is that?!? Something about this restaurant and JP as a whole just has a really cool vibe. I look forward to gorging myself on another omelet here soon.
(5)Joe S.
My wife and I are currently relocating to JP and a friend of mine who lives in the area stopped by to check out the new place. He had suggested that we go to Sorella's for some lunch. Its right around the corner. First impression, this is no-frills dining. It's a small, family owned restaurant that really packs them in. We went after 12, so we didn't have to wait for a table. The menu is huge. Its filled with all different types of omlettes. I had the "volcano" which had spinach, mushrooms, avocado, and bleu cheese. I was under the impression the bleu cheese would be of the crumbled variety, but come to find out, they just poured some bleu cheese dressing in the omlette. Maybe it was the texture, but it really didn't do it for me. Given the size of the menu, I'm sure I'll eventually find some dishes that I'll enjoy. So all is not lost. The iced coffee was delicious as well.
(3)Diana L.
Some bastard told me this place was woman-owned and like the walking San Francisco hippie stereotype that I am, I mindlessly followed my social consciousness into Sorella's. Well, you can take away my karma points, because I'm just gonna come out with it: EVERYTHING WE ATE HERE WAS BAD. I don't know how they managed to make everything taste bad, but they did it. Congrats.
(1)Theresa A.
The food here is good, love the waffles, huge menu and fresh squeezed OJ. The service needs some work
(3)Megan L.
I recently went to Sorella's when I didn't feel like standing in the rain at Centre Street Cafe. Sorella's suprisingly had no wait, but oddly enough, it took FOREVER to get our food. I ordered a breakfast burrito that consisted of scrambled eggs, avocado, and cilantro. My friend ordered scrambled eggs and toast. I think we waited 30 minutes to be served. It was crazy. I could have hopped back there and whipped up scrambled eggs in 3 minutes. The food tasted okay, but the service left much to be desired. I might go back, but only if there is no wait. No way would I wait twice for their breakfast. One positive thing I can muster...Sorella's is really cheap. We ate for like $9 plus tip.
(2)R. B.
Pancakes can be good.... the eggs, potatoes etc are on par with your basic all-night diner. BUT, the coffee is the absolute worst I've ever been served in a cafe. Tasted like it was recycled grounds (you know, when you run out of grounds and try to put more water through in hopes of getting real coffee to come out again, and it never works). Bleh. I did have a good egg sandwich here once though. I'd recommend that.
(2)Bernadette S.
Five stars for the sheer variety of omelettes and pancakes. We all have our fave. Mine is the pumpkin cranberry walnut with strawberries and cream cheese on top which is out of this world delicious. I feel gross afterwards from the sheer sweetness, so now I order a basic western omelette with a side of ONE pumpkin cranberry walnut pancake. Sure, it's a lot of food, but we share it. Their home fries have gotten better over the years, but they should be ordered well done and then generously sprinkled with pepper. Service is gruff and efficient, which is all I need in the morning anyway.
(5)Eve G.
Absolutely terrible. We get in there, and then the head cook is yelling at his staff because he has nothing better to do, and of course, one of the staff quits and walks out. Now, we've ordered our meal and we sit there for 45 minutes before I ask the waitress, who seems to be completely OUT OF IT when our meal is coming. Another 15 minutes later it comes. I get the oatmeal and chocolate chip pancakes which taste like bacon and have probably one oat in the whole batch. I ask this other man who seems to be working for Sorella's if I could get a refill on my coffee, since it had been 30 minutes before anyone has stopped to ask if I want anymore. He snaps at me saying, "someone just walked out." Then, he proceeds to fill it with a jarring look on his face. I've gone to Sorella's numerous times before this, and each time, I tell myself I'm never going back. This time, I may actually consider never going back. It honestly looks like the actual owner gave up on the place ten years ago. If the place gained a little more spirit in staff, food and service, it might do it some good.
(1)Ellen C.
Go! Go Go Go! The pancakes were delicious. I don't even care that they were out of my first two choices (be warned), because the ones I ended up getting were so good. I'd never heard of this place before a friend invited me to go. I also seem to remember that it was reasonably priced, easy to get to, and had an unfortunately long wait that was COMPLETELY worth it. It was a little hard to communicate with the waitstaff. Seriously though, the food completely makes up for absolutely anything else. Go tomorrow morning if you can.
(5)Jenna C.
I really want to like Sorella's. I want to like it so much that I give it 5 stars and say I'll go there every weekend because it's conveniently located across the street from my apartment. But I can't because I actually HATE Sorella's :( The few times I've been there I've never been able to even attempt to finish my meal and left feeling sick. But I kept going back hoping this would be a fluke. After 3 visits I realize this is no fluke... it's just awful. I don't care how big the menu is. Have they even heard of quality over quantity? What's the point of making tons of shitty food? It's beyond me. Unfortunately the food isn't even the worst part. The customer service is atrocious. Seriously, the waitresses that I've had could not have a worse attitude problem and I am ALWAYS nice. Especially when I'm not even fully awake yet. All my visits have been well after the morning rush so I don't understand why I have to wait 10 minutes for some juice when I'm watching them stand there and do nothing. Grrrrr!
(1)Yianni G.
Sorella has some of the best pancakes in the country according to this article which they flaunt on their front window flyertalk.com/forum/show… I waited fro 30 minutes during the Sunday snow storm to check out what the fuzz was all about and all I have to say is...Holy Pancakes! I got this thing called the Ben's Thunder- 4 banana pancakes (home made batter), with raspberries, strawberries, tons of whip cream and coconut flakes. It was life changing. Plus I made a new friend while waiting for a table. Her name is Meg and we ate together. My next pancake experience will probably be the ginger strawberry thing every keeps talking about. They should really expand.
(5)K T.
This place is now my favorite brunch spot in Boston. Love it. Absolutely crazy menu, ridiculously good food, tons of vegetarian options, pretty good coffee, a good value for what you get. The service wasn't mindblowing, but the people I talked to were nice and they're definitely not stingy with the coffee refills. It takes a while to get your food, but do you really have anything better to do on a Sunday morning?
(5)Mary L.
I've been visiting Sorellas for years now, and can't speak more highly of the food. The carrot walnut pancakes are my favorite: real shreds of carrot in the pancake! The staff have a lot of character, the food is good, and the atmosphere is very "Boston." Highly recommended. Be prepared though: they are cash only.
(5)H.E. A.
Perfect place for family brunch and local's favorite. Our kids and their friends love the menu and atmosphere. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is the looking wait and slow and curt service because of that (especially after Sunday service, it gets packed). During the week, experience might be different. Highly recommended if you're looming for comfort food.
(4)BJ C.
My favorite place for breakfast. That is all.
(4)Tiff S.
Pleasantly surprised by the menu. Food was yummy, big portions. Good price.
(5)Casey S.
people ask me where they should go for breakfast in Boston and this place is my response.
(5)Boston G.
I've been to Sorella's twice. The first time, the experience was quite good - the food is a very interesting mix of sweet and savory (for instance, pumpkin pancakes, breakfast burritos, sweet and salty crepes) - a very full and fascinating menu. The problem with this restaurant is the interminable wait you have to go through to actually be served. You will wait 25 minutes just to get in, and then it's anybody's guess when you'll actually get your food (usuallly another 25-30 minutes.) I don't know about you, but when I'm hungry for breakfast, I'm HUNGRY. I was just there this past Sunday with a friend, and after waiting about 45 minutes, still holding our menus, with coffee but no water (which we'd asked for) we saw the group of folks who'd come in after us having their orders taken before us... ? I know, it can be a waitress's nightmare to have to keep track of EVERYONE in the restaurant, but clearly we'd been there first. And no matter how good the food, waiting over 45 minutes JUST TO ORDER is not worth it. Add the facts that there is no air conditioning, they only accept cash, they are always understaffed and the tables are cramped = not worth the time. It's sad to say, because the food is good, but you can find better places.
(1)Crystal C.
The last year I lived in Boston, my boyfriend at the time lived a few blocks from Sorella's, and it quickly became THE destination for weekend brunch. We would stand out in the cold, rain, snow, whatever as long as we had to in order to get a table. And every time it was worth the wait. Both the upstairs and downstairs dining areas are a bit cramped, so you have to be able to tollerate the close quarters. Service was always great. But the food. It's all about the food. They had so many options that it was almost overwhelming and I know I never got to try everything they offered. Whether you are a fan of egg based breakfast dishes or just want some pancakes or french toast, you will find something inventive and delicious.
(5)Janine A.
I finally got to Sorella's. The menu is a little over whelming, every omelet and pancake listed on the menu seems to have 5 or more ingredients. I'd come back but order again without so many ingredients. It takes away from the food there are just too many ingredients. Portions are huge and the fresh squeezed OJ is great. My reason for 3 star is too many ingredients and options make options seem not well thought out. Our food was ok, not executed that well. Our lobster burrito had different ingredients in the beginning, middle , and end of the burrito.
(3)Natasha N.
Cheap, huge selection, and amazing pancakes, waffles, fresh juices and plenty of good vegetarian offerings. However I'm more of a savory breakfast kind of girl. They never scimp of fresh fruits or veggies but I would recommend ordering strategically when it comes to their kitchen sink approach to omelet making. i.e. loaded omelets minus a few toppings- marinara on the side, w/o RAW garlic, etc for an optimal experience. The service can be on the slow side, definitely a mixed bag when it comes to service , and the decor, well they could use ALOT of help. Despite it's imperfections its a solid neighborhood establishment.
(2)Brian D.
I was really pissed off when my woman dragged me to Sorellas on aSaturday morning. I knew from driving by this place a million times that it was a hotbed of crunch eyed, late morning rising, slow eating, mofo's. I'm kind of a 'in and out' breakfast guy, give me eggs or a muffin or a god damn burger - i don't care just do it quick, with coffee and without enough grease to send me immediately into gastric convulsions. So...after waiting for 10 minutes outside (the joint looks small from the outside but has a sneaky hidden side seating area) - we were seated by the scary hostess, she didn't scare me too much I was actually happy that she wasn't a bubbly morning scenester. Coffee was brought STAT and i dived into the really overwhelming menu. that is probably going to be my only complaint - too much to chose from. seriously, what the hell - 3 different polenta options, at least 10 different pancake options, enough omelette options to make the french weep and seriously, not overpriced at all. i really wanted just eggs but after breaking down into tears after seeing polenta coming out with jalapenos i had to succumb and get all yuppie-hippie for breakfast. The food was really fresh, well prepared and served in a heaping mound that filled me for hours. So, in JP - need food, don't mind sleepy annoying breakfast banter - GO to Soreallas.
(4)Vivian H.
I went there this morning, and it was wonderful. Its a cute, cozy place and the prices are great. If you arrive before 9AM, I think they have early bird specials. I got the French toast deal, lots of food and very fast. I will definitely go back to try their different pancakes, which I hear is their specialty.
(4)Mark S.
Why can't you guys just chop the veggies in your "fancy omellettes?" Stick with the normal stuff and you'll be ok.
(2)Angelina C.
I love your omelets, french toast, home fries, coffee, pancakes, etc. like I love my mom. I love your prices. I love how you're five minutes from my house.
(4)D M.
I really like this place for a dive-y poor customer service experience, but the last time I went was with Jesse and Robert, and while Robert enjoyed his breakfast, Jesse was kind of appaulled. And once I thought about it, I can see why.......the customer service is always pretty crap-tastic, and while the food is good and filled with veggies, it's always a little dirty and has a kinda crusty feel to it. I get that. But the food is cheap and it's very much a little local place that people will always flock to, whether it's good service or not. It's hard to believe I am saying this, but it's a little to hippy casual for me. I like my diners cleaner and my waitresses to have french twists and big hair if they are more nasty. Is that weird? Oh, heads up......no credit cards are accepted here.
(3)AB H.
Long wait, surly service, OK food. This was my second time to Sorella's. I think my basic complaint is that the chunks of veggies in the omelettes are too big and under cooked. The ginger french bread and oatmeal, walnut, carrot pancakes were a little bland. Even the gorgonzola sauce on top of my omelette was bland. The freshly squeezed oj was good. Omelettes come with home fries and toast - meh, not that good.
(2)Lila S.
Holy Hell....., why haven't I been here sooner?! My hubbs took me here for the first time yesterday and I could barely take the grin off my face. SOOO many choices of fruit and nuts to put in your waffles,pancakes or french toast. Folks, trust me on this one even you are a die hard savory breakfast eater, you will melt when your toungue hits the taste of banana peanut butter french toast with strawberries and whipped cream!! Its seriously a mouthgasm. Not to mention that all the French Toast is on Texas toast STANDARD!! 3 Slices were way too much but I tried my best. They don't mess around with ingredients here, some combinations that struck me were: Blueberry Walnut Maple pancakes, oatmeal peach waffles,Gingerbread French Toast and CORN BREAD FRENCH TOAST mmmmm.. My hubbs needs Eggs benedict to be happy in life but didn' t see it on the menu. You can still ask for it, but it will come as poached eggs on your choice of bread and hollindaise ( or whatever) sauce. He got it with corned beef hash and said it was perfect altogether. Now, Its worth mentioning.... burritros.... oh....my...god ... people They make a mean omlette at this place( with crazier ingredients than I could even mention) but the burritos can be breakfast or lunch style and ARE SOOO GOOD. Trust me I likes me a goood burrito. The only reason they don't get 4 stars, service was nice but sllloooww. Oh yah and weirdo couples like to frequent this place and stare at everything you eat! That said go there and love it up
(4)Bryan S.
My friends raved about this place for so long. I was very excited to try it out. What a let down. They were out of half of the menu but the worst part was that the place is filthy! I cannot tolerate eating under those conditions and I won't return. I'm going to give it 2 stars because most of my friends still love to go there... maybe it's just me?
(2)Sachin P.
Recently had their brunch and overall had a good, not great, experience. The location is a bit weird with 2-3 different dining rooms but it doesn't feel too odd once you are seated. The main plus of this location is the incredible selection of menu choices. For brunch the menu was loaded with choices. I am a vegetarian and was eating with a group of non-vegetarians and there was no shortage of choices to go around. Service was good and the waitstaff was very pleasant. Last, but not least, the food...this was good and opinions varied across the table. I was very happy but my wife was underwhelmed.
(4)Hanna B.
they do not accept credit cards: annoying. they have all kinds of crazy shit. lots of vegetarian stuff (yay!) service in my experience has been mostly shitty, but the food is generally really good and it's definitely "an experience." go there.
(4)Greg M.
Decent food, decent price, decent service. All I have to add is to stay away from the omlettes with too many ingredients. There isn't nearly enough egg to contain all of it. I know that sounds like a compliment, but it's not. I ordered an omlette with asparagus, garlic, avocado, and cheese (there may have been something else as well). Everything was just in giant chunks. There was just a half of avocado sitting in there, next to a bunch of whole spears of asparagus and a glob of melted cheese. Everything should have been chopped and dispersed evenly. And it wasn't even near propotionate to the amount of egg. This was more like a farmer's market.
(3)Mel F.
I have been to this place 2 times too many. I live very close by and was curious about the line. The first time I went, there was no line, however the service was awful! We ordered coffee, the waiter brings it...w/out sugar, or a spoon, or milk. When we asked for those things, it was as if we were asking for a favor. The breakfast wasn't so good after all, so we were still wondering about the line. We concluded that perhaps we should have ordered an omelet, since they have a huge omelet menu... Take 2: Another day, and we ordered omelets. The service was awful, the waitress was mean and SICK (runny nose, cough and cleaning it with her hands). Oh, and the omelets? Raw! I still don't get why people do this line to be treated so badly and pay for it, when you can go a few steps further and have a wonderful breakfast with the best coffee in JP at Oriental de Cuba. Needless to say, I don't go to places where people make big lines to get in anymore!
(1)Derek B.
Zillah told me about the long lines of hungry people waiting for a seat and some sustenance here on the weekend, but she continued to describe it as "greasy spoon." A huge omelette, stuffed to bursting with arugala, black beans, avocado, fresh chevre, shiitake mushrooms, basil, and I-don't-even-remember-what-else; is that "greasy spoon"? True, the place had a bit of the small-town gritty cafe look-and-feel, but in its food it transcended the stereotype. Delicious and fun, and I will definitely go back when I'm in Boston.
(4)Karen B.
A great greasy spoon for a chilly fall or winter morning breakast. They have omelet specials scribbled all over the walls, the menus carry a sheen of grease, and your plates and silverware will never match. Truly eclectic. You can get any combination of vegetables/cheese/meat in an omelet. Haven't tried the pancakes. The hash rocks, but gives nasty indigestion. Coffee is so-so. It's darn cheap though. A great meal to wake up over. The server may give you the evil eye, but you can't take it personally. They do it to everyone.
(4)Tony B.
Rachel J. My sentiments exactly. We waited no less than 45 minutes without even a sideways glance after placing our order. Our fresh squeezed OJ never even left the tree. The grilled blueberry muffin requested was rare upon arrival. However, the French toast (corn bread and texas style) were absolutely to die for. We had ours topped with cranberry/strawberry and apple/walnut respectfully. Great food, less than stellar service.
(3)Lindsay D.
Went here the other day for brunch with a large party and while it's not convenient for those who have a car and never carry cash it's still well worth it. The atmosphere was warm and cozy on a rainy Sunday morning (it was a-ok that none of us had showered after our night out just yet), the menu was enormous, and the portions were massive and delicious. My Sorella's Mozzarella (texas toast, fried egg, fresh spinach, and mozzarella with marinara sauce) was amazing... as was the Almond Blue Nana pancake that I ordered on the side. the coffee was decent - certainly nothing to write home about but also nothing to stick my nose up at either. The rest of the Caffeine Addicts felt the same, drinking about 3 cups each (our standard bottomless coffee at breakfast is usually 4-6 cups). Everyone else raved about the food as well and we all left fat and happy, full of pancake and omelet goodness. Sorella's, you officially have a customer for life.
(4)aa d.
For what Sorella's is - namely, a diner/truck-stop style greasy spoon with something of a JP crunchy twist - it comes through just fine. The food isn't going to stack up well against a swanky brunch at Aquitaine or Spire or the Gilded Truffle, but that isn't what you want this morning, now is it. You're hungover, maybe still a little drunk, you're in the dirty jeans you fell asleep wearing, you haven't showered and you need eggs, cheese & potatoes. With sausage. And a pancake. Fair enough - but seaweed?. Sure, why not. Your omelet is going to be cooked on a flat top grill that probably hasn't really been cleaned in 10 years, it will have holes in it and maybe a few brown spots here and there. A bewilderingly random assortment of ingredients will be stuffed into it haphazardly, without much regard for precise cooking times or appearance. And the hashbrowns will be a mixed bag. But remember, this is what you want. That, and a half pound of butter slathered onto your unevenly browned toast. More space would be nice, but come on, this is the city, right? You'd have to pay for that. Didn't get the eggs with your pancake special? Par for the course - speak up and have it fixed, that's a lot of plates to remember, ok? A recent early AM visit saw the front dining room filled with DPW workers and Police officers - people who actually work for a living know where to eat. Besides, where else are you going to go? If you want a relaxing Sunday brunch, go somewhere else. If you need to dilute the residual alcohol in your system with pork fat, cheese & eggs (and the aforementioned seaweed) on a Tuesday morning - Sorella's will do just fine.
(3)Leigh K.
This is the brunch place I bring every guest from out of town to. There are a crazy, slightly over the top, amount of choices of food, from at least 25-30 different omelettes exploding with fillings to 10-15 different pancake or french toast options. The coffee is as close to diner coffee that you can get in the JP area, which I just adore. The wait used to be out of control but is now much better due to their new expansion. The waitstaff can be not-so-warm, but they do their job and you very rarely have an empty glass of water or coffee. The added bonus? Sorellas is has been a sponsor of a girls softball team in JP for at least 4 years now; I love that community connection. A must eat if you are in the JP area!
(4)Art S.
Clearly this is one of those places that, if you don't like weird shit in your pancakes and can't handle the "I'll get to you when I get to you" attitude, you will be screaming to yourself "ohmygodthisplacesuckswhatthehellareyoupeopletalkiÂngabout!" For the rest of us, we know that this is not TGI Friday's. I don't give a crap if my server pretends to be happy to see me or not, so long as she brings me my grease. I'd rather have really good food served with a snarl than a bunch of crap on a plate served with a smile. Until someone else can serve me pistachio pancakes, AND be happy about it, I'll continue to think Sorella's is awesome.
(4)Abby L.
OK, I'd read the reviews, but I still had to go. It's a great looking place. It's a hole in the wall, great light, very colorful. I love the space. The menu was great, too. So many options and very unique combinations of things. I know that sounds like the beginning of a great review, but by the time I left, I knew I wouldn't be back any time soon. My fellow diners liked the random sheets of paper with menu items that were pinned up all over the walls, but I found it a little overwhelming. The choices on the menu are extensive enough already. The waitress was an older woman who tended to show no expression, so I never knew if she was hearing what we wanted or not because she didn't respond or nod or anything. She mumbled, too, so I wasn't always sure what she was asking. She seemed pretty unhappy to be there. Together, me and my three fellow diners ordered the Mexican Polenta, the Spanish Omelette, the Gingerbread Pancakes, and the Pumpkin Pancakes with Cranberry and Walnuts. My pumpkin pancakes were completely undercooked, so I ate around the edges of each pancake. There were WAY too many cranberries in the thing. Each bite had 4 or 5 little ones inside. I didn't order cranberry pancakes, did I? I didn't spot any walnuts. They were topped with cream cheese (a big hunk) and strawberries. Under ripe and overly soaked strawberries. YUCK! Between that and the doughy middle, I ate almost none of my breakfast, and that is VERY unlike me. My friend who ordered the Gingerbread pancakes loved them. I didn't, so I guess that was a matter of taste. The Mexican Polenta was weird. It had raw jalapeno's, so when you bit in, the heat of the dish seemed to somehow sit on top of the actual flavor. Not well integrated at all. Apparently the Spanish Omelette was "pretty good". I do know that the home fries that came with it were good, so that's something. I just feel like they need to shorten the menu and work on improving the recipes that they have. The start of a great breakfast place is there, but the execution is SORELY lacking.
(2)Julie A.
way too over priced. They claim to have "gourmet" breakfast. All I have to say is c'mon, really?! It's not. The menu looks like it, and looks like it would all taste really good. it's not, and they are always out of 1/2 of the stuff they claim to offer. There is a wait to get in because it's small and really cramped and the wait staff and cooks take forever, not because it's good. It's also dirty.
(2)wendy g.
Every breakfast combination available all day. I love this restaurant. I have sooo much fun every time we go. We always bring our out of town friends to show them that breakfast with Wendy (that's me) is aways "off the hook"-- you'll love the food at Sorella's and if you are a true foody- that's all that matters.
(5)robert o.
A good standard breakfast joint... We went on Saturday early, no wait. I had the french toast special - 2 eggs home fries and coffee. Everything was excellent. My partner had hash and egg, which he truly enjoyed.
(4)Ann F.
The gigantic and inventive menu at Sorella's rocks!! The quality of food prep is sometimes a mixed bag - occasionally the omlettes are a bit undercooked, for example - but sometimes phenomenal. I'm always willing to take a chance on Sorella's... the portions are huge, and though the lines are long, this is a classic JP experience not to be missed.
(4)Katrina F.
There is nowhere else in the world where I can find cranberry walnut pumpkin french toast with sour cream topping, gingerbread french toast, or raspberry banana pancakes. I could eat breakfast there every day. The service is prompt, although I don't know if I recommend the coffee. Sorella's was featured on the food channel for their variety of french toasts (freshly baked and turned into toast) and they are my favorite restaurant in all of Boston. My husband really enjoys the omelettes as well. They come chock-full of tasty ingredients.
(5)Lee Q.
What is wrong with you all?! Sorella's is HANDS DOWN the worst place I've ever been to. Went with two friends one morning because its a short walk from where e stayed. One friend, who was playing host to us, wanted us, but we went anyway thinking he was exaggerating. NOPE! Food was bland and just not good. Our waiter was terribly disinterested and rather unpleasant. My friend ordered a side of turkey sausage with her food. Shorty after it arrived, the waiter returned and said, "I'm sorry but two of those sausages were for another customer, I have to take those back." Um, EXCUSE ME? You're really going take food that was already being eaten and give it to another guest? To add insult to injury, as he walked away from us, he flashed us his ass from the giant hole in his back pocket. I made sure to tip well because when restaurants are like that, it means management treats their workers like shit. Hopefully their manager didn't pocket those tips either.
(1)J K.
There are many things that rule about Sorella's: 1. The amazing woman on the first floor that is just so awesome. 2. The banana chocolate chip pancakes. 3. The sausage and egg sandwich on an everything bagel OH GOD YES 4. THE MAPS ON EACH TABLE. I like the juxtaposition of Chicago as a country next to Argentina. 5. The coffee that always seems to incite a panic attack after I have more than one cup. 6. How quickly the food arrives! 7. All of the okcupid morning after breakfast dates. AWESOME. Cash only! Bring cash dollars.
(4)Philip T.
We really liked this place. Great breakfast good friendly service. You could spend a month just trying out the omeletes!
(5)Raya M.
I'm gonna give this place negative 100 if I could. I live up the street and regularly walked by, so my bf and I decided to give it a try. Service was mediocre, but we didn't expect too much from a busy bfast place. But, we were super disappointed when out food arrived in dishes that looked link were never washed from the previous use. My Romeos omelette was gross to say the least. The avocado was straight up rotting and the rest of the ingredients were mashed together and not seasoned at all. I has about 2 bites and had to stop cause it felt like I mate get good poisoning. My bf got one of the bfast burritos. He ordered the one with chicken, but got beef instead. The beef tasted like dog food, his words, not mine. No one asked us how our food was? So we didn't bother share it. But I can honestly say that this is the worst place I've been to in my life. Don't go there, not worth your money!!!
(1)Clare M.
We love this place! I can't believe that it doesn't have 5 stars! The oatmeal pancakes (or oatmeal chocolate chips if your chocalately inclined) are absolutely delish, the service is friendly, the menu offers endless options (or so it seems) and its waaaay better value than that other place further down center st...and usually, if you hit it just right, you don't have to wait for a table like you do at that other place. Every time we have guests, this is where we take them. Yummy, homey, and a great place to start your weekend...or any day of the week actually.
(5)Jen B.
I have been coming here, on and off, for more than 20 years. I am vegetarian and it is super easy to eat here. The eggs are just right, the potatoes are not over cooked over oiled or over spiced- delicious! My personal favorite: pumpkin,walnut and cranberry pancakes- can't beat them. Fresh squeezed OJ is great. Almost any eater can have a delicious breakfast at a reasonable price in a casual, quaint environment with friendly staff.
(5)Terra N.
It's totally small downstairs and the tables are pretty close together. I like cozy restaurants because it's kinda like we're having a fun gathering with strangers and wanting to steal their food cause it looks so yummy. The decor is questionable and kinda tacky in my opinion, but at the same time very unique and shows the character of the owners. I really hate fake flowers in vases; I'd rather have fresh flowers or clutter-free. I ended up enjoying the Crepe del la Susanna? Which 5 minutes later, they realized they did not have goat cheese which made me sad, but I'm not a fussy twat like some people and just substituted feta. Also got a side of tamarind, garlic, spinach tempeh which was okay. I was expecting more flavor. The refills on coffee were pretty much every five minutes which is nice because the cute coffee cups were clearly being reused which I love. As a server, I was sad that they staggered on bringing out the meals (not proper restaurant etiquette) but it's understandable because breakfast food can cool fast, so you want it out right away. I got my meal last and it was okay. The feta cheese was in huge chunks but I loved the avocado, tomato, red peppers, spinach, and yummy walnut sauce that it came with. There was a hint of either paprika or mystery spice which added a nice smokey flavor. The homefries it came with was meh. Had a bite of other people's pancakes, and they were good. Actually I kind of have an upset tummy right now. TMI? :( I almost forgot to mention that they gave us complimentary fruit plate which was really nice of them, and we just ordered a couple of minutes earlier than that. Might come back again, but there are other places that are much closer to where I live and frequent that I'd rather go to. I'm not being fair because I ultimately wanted to go to Paris Creperie in Coolidge Corner but caved to majority. Everyone else pretty much cleaned their plate which is good, but now I feel like a picky eater. The server was really nice and outgoing and he was most definitely patient with us who were new to the 9 page menu and specials.
(3)L. S.
I've been here a few times, and while it's not the best brunch place in Boston, I haven't found a better cheap place in Jamaica Plain. I've always been happy with their pancakes, and my friends are a big fan of their french toast and the gingerbread pancakes. The home fries are inconsistent, and I can't comment on their eggs, since I really don't like breakfast eggs. It is rather cramped, and is usually very busy during brunch hours, but it's not intolerable. The service varies from excellent to mediocre, depending on the server and the day. If you have a hankering for pancakes and don't want to shell out $15 for brunch at some fancy place, Sorella's is an excellent choice! Just remember to bring cash, as they don't accept credit cards.
(4)Chris M.
Definitely feels like an average diner - no mistaking that. What's above average is the menu. They're a diner that cares about serving you something different, something better than your sausage and eggs or whatever. Not sure the quality of each of their ingredients but it seems like they know what they're doing. They are also more than happy to accommodate vegans such as myself with tofu and knowing to leave out delicious things like cheese. Their breakfast burritos are huge and their hot sauce is hot. (but not too hot) Their OJ is the perfect thing to suck down in the morning. Their coffee was burnt tasting and not too fresh, but I let it slide because it's a diner and I hadn't gotten much sleep that night. I would come back. It would take me quite a few visits to try the whole menu...
(4)Howe L.
I dont mind the bare-bones, homy charm of this place. But the food is merely average, if that. However, extra star for the not so average selection and portion sizes.
(3)Jason S.
Food is quick, decent, too many choices, friendly inside staff. Unfortunately your first interaction is with an older lady outside who takes your name. She was really weird asking to keep someone dog, throwing her candy wrappers on the street. Couldn't be a worse "face" to your business for those who never been yet inside.
(3)Karen L.
We had a really bad brunch here this morning. I went with 3 friends, two of whom had the Neptune omelet, which seemed crazy (although they liked it). I had the Cha-Cha omelet--a Tex-Mex style thing made severely mediocre by below-average ingredients (canned black olives, cruddy salsa), possibly the worst "home fries" I've ever had (boiled potatoes partially rewarmed and sprinkled with paprika), and wheat toast that resembled cardboard more than food. My friend had what was theoretically homemade corned beef hash that, tragically, smelled and tasted like canned hash (at best) vs. Alpo (at worst). We unenthusiastically took a few bites of the egg nog "French Toast," which is basically dry cake crusted with some fried egg and covered with canned apple pie filling and whipped cream. Apparently, sprinkle of cinnamon = egg nog. The one positive was the plentiful (if otherwise average) coffee. Perhaps the impatient, crusty service is part of the charm for some people, but to my mind, it just completed the "we don't give a fuck about you or your fucking breakfast" picture. I was told by the Neptune-eating friends that prior experiences at this joint were better. However, after today's breakfast, I cannot for the life of me understand the appeal of this place, or why anyone would come here more than once.
(1)Basile T.
If you like a big menu, you're in the right place! They pretty much have every type of omelette you can think of. I personally think the menu is too big, and the food is very good for a diner-like place. Definitely try it out.
(4)Lynette S.
How sad that the big guy who always seems to be there had a tantrum when i asked him something. he tried to intimidate and embarass us and it did not work. I did not think it was good that he referred to the waitress as "the spanish girl" and and qccused us of not having enough money to pay the bill. (entirely untrue!) he needs to get a life. Result = not going back!
(1)Gray S.
I recently moved to a place about three blocks away from Sorella's. I had been there maybe four years ago and had a positive experience so I was excited to have a cute little breakfast joint near at hand. My repeat visit was sadly lacking. 1) My friend was served spoiled milk for which they were not very apologetic. Honestly this is forgivable, It was in a little seal bottle so this probably wasn't their fault. Still, gross. 2)My friend ordered eggs Benedict, which comes with three eggs. He was only served two, which he didn't notice until he was just about finished eating everything and someone from the kitchen came out with a poached egg in a bowl and handed it to him telling him that they had forgotten an egg. Ok, weird but again forgivable. 3) Ok, so my actual complaint. I ordered their home made blueberry bread french toast. Yum right? Bread with blueberries in it, I've never even seen that, how novel! Except this isn't blueberry bread, it's "blueberry bread", You know that tea bread that's not bread at all, it's like a muffin or cake incognito as bread? Yeah so the french toast is really that, three huge slices of very sweet cake, dipped a tiny bit in eggs, and warm. It's not bad blueberry bread, but it's not french toast and three slices of the stuff is way more cake than anyone should have for breakfast. Also I splurged and ordered mine with real maple syrup, I was excited they had it, I hate that fake stuff. However I would have to be a masochistic diabetic or a 5 year old child to put it on top of the already very sweet cake I was served. The place has a greasy spoon atmosphere at best and the prices aren't great enough to excuse it. They have a huge menu, which is kind of paralyzing to consider in the early am, but offers a lot of options. They had a $6 minimum per person, so don't bring your not so hungry friend in for a cup of coffee and an English muffin. All this said, I will probably be back to give them another chance since they are so close by. I will get an omelet next time and I will let you know how it goes.
(2)Erica B.
Sad. When I first moved to JP, almost 12 years ago, I really enjoyed Sorella's. Yes, the coffee was bad, but it was a reliable, kid-friendly option that served reasonable food and was very vegetarian friendly. But over time it has become terrible. I don't mind the sometimes surly service (only the big guy is good), or the unnecessarily long menu. But the food and hygiene have reached a low that is repulsive. Nothing's fresh or generous anymore. The final straw for me was when I went in there with my nephews (little boys) and had to take one if them to the bathroom (which is filthy and basically in the kitchen) and I got a good look at the cramped and downright dirty, disorganized kitchen. Then we were served pancakes made from spoilt batter! When we sent them back, the Big Guy didn't apologize, just made an excuse. didn't offer to remake them or bring something else. Moments later we found red hairs in one of the kid's eggs. They don't serve real syrup except at an up charge, no vegetables in food anymore... I could've handled it. But rotten batter and hairs and a filthy bathroom in the kitchen? Never again. Nasty.
(1)Sachin P.
Recently had their brunch and overall had a good, not great, experience. The location is a bit weird with 2-3 different dining rooms but it doesn't feel too odd once you are seated. The main plus of this location is the incredible selection of menu choices. For brunch the menu was loaded with choices. I am a vegetarian and was eating with a group of non-vegetarians and there was no shortage of choices to go around. Service was good and the waitstaff was very pleasant. Last, but not least, the food...this was good and opinions varied across the table. I was very happy but my wife was underwhelmed.
(4)Hanna B.
they do not accept credit cards: annoying. they have all kinds of crazy shit. lots of vegetarian stuff (yay!) service in my experience has been mostly shitty, but the food is generally really good and it's definitely "an experience." go there.
(4)BJ C.
My favorite place for breakfast. That is all.
(4)Mel F.
I have been to this place 2 times too many. I live very close by and was curious about the line. The first time I went, there was no line, however the service was awful! We ordered coffee, the waiter brings it...w/out sugar, or a spoon, or milk. When we asked for those things, it was as if we were asking for a favor. The breakfast wasn't so good after all, so we were still wondering about the line. We concluded that perhaps we should have ordered an omelet, since they have a huge omelet menu... Take 2: Another day, and we ordered omelets. The service was awful, the waitress was mean and SICK (runny nose, cough and cleaning it with her hands). Oh, and the omelets? Raw! I still don't get why people do this line to be treated so badly and pay for it, when you can go a few steps further and have a wonderful breakfast with the best coffee in JP at Oriental de Cuba. Needless to say, I don't go to places where people make big lines to get in anymore!
(1)Derek B.
Zillah told me about the long lines of hungry people waiting for a seat and some sustenance here on the weekend, but she continued to describe it as "greasy spoon." A huge omelette, stuffed to bursting with arugala, black beans, avocado, fresh chevre, shiitake mushrooms, basil, and I-don't-even-remember-what-else; is that "greasy spoon"? True, the place had a bit of the small-town gritty cafe look-and-feel, but in its food it transcended the stereotype. Delicious and fun, and I will definitely go back when I'm in Boston.
(4)Karen B.
A great greasy spoon for a chilly fall or winter morning breakast. They have omelet specials scribbled all over the walls, the menus carry a sheen of grease, and your plates and silverware will never match. Truly eclectic. You can get any combination of vegetables/cheese/meat in an omelet. Haven't tried the pancakes. The hash rocks, but gives nasty indigestion. Coffee is so-so. It's darn cheap though. A great meal to wake up over. The server may give you the evil eye, but you can't take it personally. They do it to everyone.
(4)Tony B.
Rachel J. My sentiments exactly. We waited no less than 45 minutes without even a sideways glance after placing our order. Our fresh squeezed OJ never even left the tree. The grilled blueberry muffin requested was rare upon arrival. However, the French toast (corn bread and texas style) were absolutely to die for. We had ours topped with cranberry/strawberry and apple/walnut respectfully. Great food, less than stellar service.
(3)Lindsay D.
Went here the other day for brunch with a large party and while it's not convenient for those who have a car and never carry cash it's still well worth it. The atmosphere was warm and cozy on a rainy Sunday morning (it was a-ok that none of us had showered after our night out just yet), the menu was enormous, and the portions were massive and delicious. My Sorella's Mozzarella (texas toast, fried egg, fresh spinach, and mozzarella with marinara sauce) was amazing... as was the Almond Blue Nana pancake that I ordered on the side. the coffee was decent - certainly nothing to write home about but also nothing to stick my nose up at either. The rest of the Caffeine Addicts felt the same, drinking about 3 cups each (our standard bottomless coffee at breakfast is usually 4-6 cups). Everyone else raved about the food as well and we all left fat and happy, full of pancake and omelet goodness. Sorella's, you officially have a customer for life.
(4)aa d.
For what Sorella's is - namely, a diner/truck-stop style greasy spoon with something of a JP crunchy twist - it comes through just fine. The food isn't going to stack up well against a swanky brunch at Aquitaine or Spire or the Gilded Truffle, but that isn't what you want this morning, now is it. You're hungover, maybe still a little drunk, you're in the dirty jeans you fell asleep wearing, you haven't showered and you need eggs, cheese & potatoes. With sausage. And a pancake. Fair enough - but seaweed?. Sure, why not. Your omelet is going to be cooked on a flat top grill that probably hasn't really been cleaned in 10 years, it will have holes in it and maybe a few brown spots here and there. A bewilderingly random assortment of ingredients will be stuffed into it haphazardly, without much regard for precise cooking times or appearance. And the hashbrowns will be a mixed bag. But remember, this is what you want. That, and a half pound of butter slathered onto your unevenly browned toast. More space would be nice, but come on, this is the city, right? You'd have to pay for that. Didn't get the eggs with your pancake special? Par for the course - speak up and have it fixed, that's a lot of plates to remember, ok? A recent early AM visit saw the front dining room filled with DPW workers and Police officers - people who actually work for a living know where to eat. Besides, where else are you going to go? If you want a relaxing Sunday brunch, go somewhere else. If you need to dilute the residual alcohol in your system with pork fat, cheese & eggs (and the aforementioned seaweed) on a Tuesday morning - Sorella's will do just fine.
(3)Leigh K.
This is the brunch place I bring every guest from out of town to. There are a crazy, slightly over the top, amount of choices of food, from at least 25-30 different omelettes exploding with fillings to 10-15 different pancake or french toast options. The coffee is as close to diner coffee that you can get in the JP area, which I just adore. The wait used to be out of control but is now much better due to their new expansion. The waitstaff can be not-so-warm, but they do their job and you very rarely have an empty glass of water or coffee. The added bonus? Sorellas is has been a sponsor of a girls softball team in JP for at least 4 years now; I love that community connection. A must eat if you are in the JP area!
(4)Art S.
Clearly this is one of those places that, if you don't like weird shit in your pancakes and can't handle the "I'll get to you when I get to you" attitude, you will be screaming to yourself "ohmygodthisplacesuckswhatthehellareyoupeopletalkiÂngabout!" For the rest of us, we know that this is not TGI Friday's. I don't give a crap if my server pretends to be happy to see me or not, so long as she brings me my grease. I'd rather have really good food served with a snarl than a bunch of crap on a plate served with a smile. Until someone else can serve me pistachio pancakes, AND be happy about it, I'll continue to think Sorella's is awesome.
(4)Abby L.
OK, I'd read the reviews, but I still had to go. It's a great looking place. It's a hole in the wall, great light, very colorful. I love the space. The menu was great, too. So many options and very unique combinations of things. I know that sounds like the beginning of a great review, but by the time I left, I knew I wouldn't be back any time soon. My fellow diners liked the random sheets of paper with menu items that were pinned up all over the walls, but I found it a little overwhelming. The choices on the menu are extensive enough already. The waitress was an older woman who tended to show no expression, so I never knew if she was hearing what we wanted or not because she didn't respond or nod or anything. She mumbled, too, so I wasn't always sure what she was asking. She seemed pretty unhappy to be there. Together, me and my three fellow diners ordered the Mexican Polenta, the Spanish Omelette, the Gingerbread Pancakes, and the Pumpkin Pancakes with Cranberry and Walnuts. My pumpkin pancakes were completely undercooked, so I ate around the edges of each pancake. There were WAY too many cranberries in the thing. Each bite had 4 or 5 little ones inside. I didn't order cranberry pancakes, did I? I didn't spot any walnuts. They were topped with cream cheese (a big hunk) and strawberries. Under ripe and overly soaked strawberries. YUCK! Between that and the doughy middle, I ate almost none of my breakfast, and that is VERY unlike me. My friend who ordered the Gingerbread pancakes loved them. I didn't, so I guess that was a matter of taste. The Mexican Polenta was weird. It had raw jalapeno's, so when you bit in, the heat of the dish seemed to somehow sit on top of the actual flavor. Not well integrated at all. Apparently the Spanish Omelette was "pretty good". I do know that the home fries that came with it were good, so that's something. I just feel like they need to shorten the menu and work on improving the recipes that they have. The start of a great breakfast place is there, but the execution is SORELY lacking.
(2)Julie A.
way too over priced. They claim to have "gourmet" breakfast. All I have to say is c'mon, really?! It's not. The menu looks like it, and looks like it would all taste really good. it's not, and they are always out of 1/2 of the stuff they claim to offer. There is a wait to get in because it's small and really cramped and the wait staff and cooks take forever, not because it's good. It's also dirty.
(2)wendy g.
Every breakfast combination available all day. I love this restaurant. I have sooo much fun every time we go. We always bring our out of town friends to show them that breakfast with Wendy (that's me) is aways "off the hook"-- you'll love the food at Sorella's and if you are a true foody- that's all that matters.
(5)robert o.
A good standard breakfast joint... We went on Saturday early, no wait. I had the french toast special - 2 eggs home fries and coffee. Everything was excellent. My partner had hash and egg, which he truly enjoyed.
(4)Ann F.
The gigantic and inventive menu at Sorella's rocks!! The quality of food prep is sometimes a mixed bag - occasionally the omlettes are a bit undercooked, for example - but sometimes phenomenal. I'm always willing to take a chance on Sorella's... the portions are huge, and though the lines are long, this is a classic JP experience not to be missed.
(4)Bonnie G.
Sorella's is to Centre St. Cafe as: a)Rod Dees is to Brown Sugar Cafe b)Tello's is to H&M c)Rodney's book is to Brookline Booksmith d)Trader Joe's is to Whole Foods I think you're getting the point. Located at the rotary at Centre St. and Perkins St. (39 bus stops, 41 bus stops, Jackson Sq or Stoneybrook T stop on the orange line), this randomly two stories (random cause the two stories aren't on top of another) serves breakfast that will satisfy your hangover anger and lethargy. Around the corner (kind of) from Centre St. Cafe, one does love the polish and amazing organic food they serve (plus the host who looks like Anthony Keidis), but Sorella's got moxie and a resigned efficiency (kinda like when you stop by your friends house and her mom makes you an apple cinnamon pancake and plops it on your plate in silent resentment but you dont care cause it tastes good). Before you go, grab an iced coffee from Junebag Cafe across the street (or stop by JP Licks for some) and while you are at it grab juice- a large bottle of chug costs 4 bucks! I prefer the downstairs, but grab a host right away to get your name on the list and be prepared to wait (this is when your drink comes in handy). You can also call them ahead of time for reservations. They can sit two people or like ten. They have insane menu options scrawled all over the walls in lamenated slips, chalkboards, like fuckin Memento. These are ADDITIONAL to your menu! Special notes: On their omlettes option, you can replace the egg with tofu! All you vegan-heads out there-do it! I have tried a lot here, but the Nutty Pancakes (chock full of all kinds of nuts and chocolate chips) taste like Baklava and the best. Cheap ass mimosas. The waffles are fluffy and freeze well (I tend to overorder, ok?). They have special breads for the french toast. The omlettes are gigantic and I have yet to see anyone finish one. The home fries are a little too big, but not too greasey and definitely satisfying. Cash only. And yeah, take your out of town friends here to impress them, then take a walk around the pond. Nothin wrong with that.
(5)Nicholas C.
Reasonably priced, relaxed breakfast spot in JP. Friendly staff that didn't rush us. I had the basic 2 egg, homefries, and toast (4.95), which was delicious. My friends had more complicated dishes, which they actually weren't so fond of, but my dish was soo good that I'll definitely be back.
(3)matthew h.
I've been here for breakfast exactly once and although I try not to rate places after only one attendance I couldn't help it in this case. The breakfast menu is wicked freakin' huge. It's not even like a "oh look, they have a southwestern omelette," but rather a "holy crap you can put that on an omelette???" I'm sure not everything on the menu is bruncherific but show me a menu this big that is. I plan on bringing a notebook next time to make a list of the things I've tried. I see that some people have given the servers less than stellar results but ours was pretty good. We had to end up bringing the check up to the register but they were in the middle of a big table turnover so it was no big deal. I can't wait to try it again.
(4)Aimee S.
I love this place. They have so many breakfast choices, it's quite hard to decide, but well worth it! Reading the menus gave me some great ideas for stuff to make at home too! The coffee was great and the food was tasty and well priced.
(4)Shannon C.
My brunch confidante and I gave Sorella's 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for the imaginative mind that keeps coming up with new ways to combine some basic breakfast ingredients. I ordered pumpkin pancakes with strawberries and cream cheese. Sorella's menu makes you think, "huh. who thought of that?" Which means you may spend several minutes looking over the menu. Don't worry, the staff seems to be prepared for that! Too bad the coffee tastes like dirty water and the tables are smushed (word? if so, sp?) so close together a guy next to us almost knocked my friend's plate off the table. Still, a good breakfast option in JP.
(4)Natasha N.
Cheap, huge selection, and amazing pancakes, waffles, fresh juices and plenty of good vegetarian offerings. However I'm more of a savory breakfast kind of girl. They never scimp of fresh fruits or veggies but I would recommend ordering strategically when it comes to their kitchen sink approach to omelet making. i.e. loaded omelets minus a few toppings- marinara on the side, w/o RAW garlic, etc for an optimal experience. The service can be on the slow side, definitely a mixed bag when it comes to service , and the decor, well they could use ALOT of help. Despite it's imperfections its a solid neighborhood establishment.
(2)Matthew A.
Horrible hole in the wall with overpriced "gourmet" pancakes. Yeah right. Why do they serve tap water in old yellow plastic tumblers. Sitting shoulder to shoulder. Grungy looking female waitstaff with nose rings. I think I would rather eat at home. Thank You.
(1)Kevin M.
This place is good... better than Mike's (In the south end)... but a little pricier as well... most items aren't bad (pancakes, french toast, etc..) but the fresh squeezed orange juice is $5! (They also offer the bottled Garelick OJ, a better value). The signs on the tables are written in magic marker on spare construction paper! But, the place has character... service is spotty (Some good, some not so good, but what do you expect?) Overall, good experience! Bathroom was VERY clean, which scores extra points in my book. and if you go, try the oatmeal pancakes... very light and tasty!
(4)Meg K.
Massive portions, a creative menu, and great prices. Sorella's is my favorite place to take overnight guests for weekend brunch. You can get a platter-sized omelette with any combination of breakfast meats, cheeses, herbs, and vegetables, and breakfast breads with nuts, fruits, and sauces (gingerbread french toast was a recent favorite). There are plenty of vegetarian options as well. They have bland hash browns, but you'll have so much other food on your plate that they are unecessary. If you want a whole avocado or 5 strips of bacon in your omelette, or you think it would be fun to try brie and asparagus with eggs, or pumpkin pancakes with whipped cream cheese, try Sorella's. The service is hit-or-miss. You definitely want to be seated in the first-floor room. The last couple of times we have gotten the woman we refer to as "the worst waitress ever". She forgets parts of your order, and gets grumpy when you ask, "can I please have my toast now?" There also tend to be long waits, but a sign on the door says they have begun taking reservations. All in all Sorella's has a terrific menu and great prices, with mediocre service.
(4)elizabeth l.
go to sorella's for an unparalleled and unexpectedly delightful breakfast experience, complete with yummy food, bitter coffee, sweet artwork, and a surly waitress (if you're lucky). with oodles of options, you'll be able to choose from the most unique selection of omelettes, waffles, and pancakes i've ever seen. keep in mind that this place is completely unpretentious, and the wait staff will probably ignore you. more likely than not, you will hear someone yelling in the kitchen. this is all part of the charm of dining in a restaurant that feels like someone's dysfunctional household. i recommend locating the bathroom because you get to practically walk through the kitchen to find it. you may laugh, you may cry, but you are guaranteed to have an unforgettable time.
(5)Will C.
Sorella's is pretty damn good. The first time I went, I had hash and eggs, and they were awesome. They have great pancakes as well. That's all I really need. Hash thats not soggy, eggs cooked the way I want with a little cheese on top, and the option of some bomb pancakes. You do that well, automatic 5 stars from me. They're menu is pretty extensive outside of that too. My friend got the eggs rockefeller that looked effin tops. My only complaint is that their home fries have gotten progressively worse every time I've ordered them.
(5)Tiff S.
Pleasantly surprised by the menu. Food was yummy, big portions. Good price.
(5)Casey S.
people ask me where they should go for breakfast in Boston and this place is my response.
(5)Sarah S.
The reason that this place has either 5 or 1 star depending on the reviewer is that they have an excellent menu that that cannot do justice to on the weekends. There is a huge selection of omelets and pancakes to chose from, and they're delicious - if you go at a time when they're not so busy that you are served cold undercooked food. They expanded their dining area but not their kitchens about 3 years ago, and compounded their problems. The service on the weekends is slow, and the food is often undercooked or shoddily assembled. Go on a weekday morning and you get to experience what they are capable of.
(3)Amelia E.
Pretty good!! SO many choices of things to eat!!!
(3)Erin H.
People seem to love this place, and in a recent visit, I too enjoyed the large omelette with huge potatoes on the side. I went on a Sunday, a popular time for the brunch establishment. While chatting with my friends, I kept an eye on the open tables; I did not want to take too long at my table talking if there were people who were waiting to get in. The whole time I noticed that a few tables maintained empty the entire time: a table for four and a couple tables for two. I was shocked when we were then hurried out and asked to pay because "there was a line outside." Really? A line? Then why the empty tables? We paid and left, and told the people waiting outside to complain because there were empty tables inside. I probably won't go back.
(2)Tori O.
Do not get the vegetarian hash. It was terrible and looked like compost. The only interesting thing is the fact that they have basically everything you could want to be put in pancakes or an omelette but quality goes down with the increased quantity. It also is very cheap but there are much better places.
(2)Korri Leigh C.
As long as you can handle the A.D.D. process of trying to figure out what you're going to order, the food is awesome. Sorella's is a perfect hungover Sunday brunch. You will be happy no matter what you choose after pouring over the huge menu and/or trying to pick something off the crazy walls. Be patient with the wait-staff, I know from experience that brunch service can be frazzling. Frazzling is that even a word?
(4)Mitchell B.
It's by far one of the better breakfast joints in the Boston Area.
(4)Elle R.
Sorella's has the worst service I have ever experienced. I went in on a weekday morning with two friends. Only a few tables were occupied and we were seated right away. And then the nightmare known as "customer service at Sorella's" began. We waited 5 minutes for menus. We had to ask the waitress for them twice. After another 5 minutes, she took drink orders. Three waters, one small orange juice and one large orange juice. She comes back with two small orange juices and no waters. It took asking her four times and 45 minutes to get water to the table. It was almost as though she was avoiding the hell out of us. Two tables were seated while we were trying to get her attention to order food. She took their orders before ours! We sat there for 45 minutes waiting to have our orders taken. We were on the verge of throwing $5 on the table and walking out to get food somewhere else when she finally took our food orders. The food was good, which is the only reason this restaurant gets stars, and didn't take a lifetime to come out. Our waters came with the food, but the waitress never checked in to see how it was or if we needed something (which, of course, we did... since our table lacked jelly and other condiments). Luckily, we had asked for the check with the food and she brought that speedily enough. I will never return here again, even though it is close by. The food does not make up for the unbelievably sub-par service. I got faster service from stoned hippie waiters at dive bars in Portland, OR.
(2)Matthew M.
I like Sorella's. Though the quality of the food is nothing special, the sheer variety of interesting and unique items on the menu makes up for it. Where else on earth can you get macadamia-banana-peanut butter pancakes? Even though you might be able to make a more skillfully executed meal at home, it's worth paying the modest prices at Sorella's just for the chance to get inspiration from the menu, if for nothing else. If you're in JP and it's time for brunch, don't pass it up.
(4)E.G. S.
Go to this place. You will almost not want to go anywhere else for breakfast again. On Sunday there may be a wait so bundle up if its cold. They have the most interesting combination omelets and pancakes on the planet. ordinary stuff too but you can go anywhere for that, right?
(5)Kristina M.
What a disappointment! Having read all these raving reviews about their breakfast/brunch I headed out there on Saturday looking forward to a yummy brunch experience. Instead, I left feeling very dissatisfied. For one, even though they have about 300 options on their menu, there was exactly ONE dish that they were willing to make vegan. Hey, as a vegan I am used to being restricted in my food options, but I would have appreciated a little more willingness to accommodate us (especially since they explicitly encourage customers to inquire about specific dietary requests). Anyway, I would be willing to be forgiving about this if the one dish they offered would have at least been good. But it wasn't. The tofu stir-fry was pretty bad, the ingredients didn't look like they were high-quality or even fresh, and I had to pour a lot of hot sauce on it to be able to eat it. It wasn't exactly horrible and didn't make me feel sick either, but it was definitely not something I'd usually pay for. On top of that, the service isn't particularly friendly either (one of the waiters was OK, but the other was really quite grumpy). They also charged 5$ for an orange juice, which they claimed was freshly squeezed, but which in fact clearly was from a bottle. All in all, a really disappointing experience. (Admittedly, it might be a much better place for non-vegans, and I like the diner-style, which is why I give it 2 rather than 1 star, but as a vegan I can only say: Don't go!)
(2)Kyle F.
i love your fantastic brunch foods. so tasty tasty. but i hate your stupid lines.
(3)Roberto C.
Like the food but the people act like they're doing you a favor. If you can put up w/tired little hs hussies - still tipped them, but they can have someone elses bidness next time. Btw, almost every time I've been here either there is a UFO floating in my water or there's some sort of chap stick/lip stick smeared across the rim of my glass. Do yourself a favor, go to Centre St next door.
(1)Exa V.
Let's get this straight. Sorella's is a diner. A creative diner, a cool diner, yes. It's still a diner. It's dirty like a diner, almost as cheap as one, and the coffee is about that good (read: not very good at all). Furthermore, it's a breakfast/brunch place, so show up after 10 and yeah, expect a wait. I've been to Sorella's twice and will definitely go again. I've had the vegetarian hash and eggs over medium, which was solid, and a #9 omelette with broccoli, tomatoes, red peppers, and jarlsberg cheese. Also solid. Some could complain that the vegetable chunks are way too big, but I love me some veggies and don't mind much. The flavors of both dishes were great, although I found the hash a little disappointing--I wanted more flavor in the tofu. I like the service--it's semi-efficient, heavy on the coffee and tattoos, and funny. I like the waitresses. On my last venture we had a very strange man who sat next to us. The waitress dealt with him very well, and we all had a good laugh afterwards. The menu is overwhelming huge, so I would suggest figuring out if you want savory or sweet (read: eggs or pancakes/french toast) and figuring it out from there. Or just have polenta. Whatever. The list of pancakes and french toasts looks fantastic, but I never end up ordering them for some reason. Probably because the omelettes are so awesome looking too--except for the ones with nuts! Who puts nuts in an omelette, for serious?! Anyway, I love Sorella's. It's a cool place. Yay.
(4)Jamie A.
oh man, oh man, oh man! talk about CHOICES! this place has more than you've ever imagined for breakfast! On a darling street of JP right next to the Animal Hospital and the Milky Way, lies Sorella's, a little hole in the wall rounding the corner. I had read about it in my MAP BOSTON planner, so I was all psyched to try it out. I recommend going with one of those friends who loves putting both your plates in the middle of the table and sharing everything. We couldn't decide on sweet or savory, so we ordered the Gingerbread pancakes (w/ sour cream & fresh strawberries) and Toni's omelet (goat cheese, spinach, portobellos, sun-dried tomatoes, & sprouts on top). DAMN. Those pancakes were INCREDIBLE. I swear, sour cream is the secret ingredient to making everything more amazing. The omelet was also tasty, but we agreed that we like our omelets to have every ingredient in each bite, and the ingredients in this one weren't chopped at all, so they were rather awkward to eat. But anyways, be prepared to pour over a GIANT menu--complete with more specials ALL OVER the walls, & also be prepared to sit for awhile, as their service consisted of one girl. yeah. Plus, they've got legit coffee that you can drink black, which is a huge plus in my book!
(4)Pickle P.
I really want to like Sorella's, I really do. After all, 10,000 lesbians can't be wrong! But friends and I have had too many raw veggie omelettes and the coffee is truck stop swill. One friend said flatly, "That was the worst breakfast I've ever had." They should edit the menu and concentrate on getting the basics down. Don't be fooled by the line of hipsters in those silly skinny jeans outside smoking Camels, they're not old enough to know better.
(2)Lynette M.
Interesting breakfast options tons of pancakes and omelettes. I preferred the pancakes. Sometimes a weekend wait...
(3)Daniel M.
Don't heed the doubters. Sorella's blueberry pancakes own. That is all.
(4)Paul M.
The only reason I can't give this 5 stars is because of the ridiculously long wait for brunch on sunday. And the wait is long...expect to spend at least 30min waiting for a table. You can make reservations before 10am, but come on who is up that early on a sunday. This is pretty much the most perfect breakfest place ever, it took me forever to decide what to get because everything sounded so good. And it was. I may have to make Sorellas an every weekend kind of thing.
(4)Amanda D.
Sorella's is the best breakfast place around for those of us that live in JP. The Center St cafe is in close competition, but their operating hours put Sorella's ahead by 1 point. Sorella's has the kind of creative breakfast menu that makes your mouth water while you try to figure out what to order. Whether you like savory or sweet when you first wake up, they have it all. I really like their crepes and omlettes. And fresh OJ too. While I have been quoted a wait time of 20 minutes on a weekend morning, I have never waited more then 5-10 minutes.
(5)Thuy L.
Have you ever gone for brunch and wish there was more of a selection? If so, you haven't been to Sorella's. Talk about a wide selection, 4 pages of front and back brunch selections. Ten different bread choices for French toast; 30 different kinds of omelette options with every single kind of combinatioions of ingredients possible, and various breakfast burrito options. Portions are huge here. I got the James omelette with tomatos, spinach, gouda, artichoke hearts, olives, garlic, and about 5 other ingredients. My omelette was a little runny and the ingredients were not spread evenly through the omelette. There were portions of the omelette that had more artichoke hearts than others, portions that had more gouda than others, but it was pretty good. I also got a side of bacon--a litte bit greasier than normal but hey, it wasn't that bad. Aside from the slow service and the fact that they do not take credit cards can make it a little frustrating, but there is definitely something there for everyone.
(3)Alex M.
A friend and I took the T all the way from Cambridge to get pancakes here and it was worth it. That should tell it all. The portions are huge for reasonable prices, the staff are friendly, the atmosphere is comfortable, and the pancakes are delicious! Vegetarian friendly, for sure. Too small for groups, but great for a cozy breakfast with a friend, or intimate.
(5)Amanda S.
I can't believe it has taken me this long to try Sorella's- I will definitely be back. Omlettes were huge & packed with fresh veggies. I had Toni's Omlette with portobello, spinach, sun-dried tomato, and goat cheese, served with toast & great homefries. The menu has something for everyone whether you're looking for the average breakfast sandwich, or something a little more unique (lots of pancake, fresh toast, and omlette choices). The space is small, but homey. Give it a try! Unfortunately- cash only.
(4)Laura A.
hmm, what to say about sorella's...i really really like it. everyone needs a little grease in their lives and you'll find it here. i like that they have vegan and vegetarian options. i like the lack of wait and the townie kinda attitude. it's the dirty dive of brunch places. however- my stomach ALWAYS feels upset after i finish eating here..i suspect they cook the homefries on the same grill as the meat or something because (as vegetarians on here know what i'm talking about, i'm sure) something just didn't sit right in my stomach. do i give it four stars for having a dirty grill? no...i'm giving it four stars for having vegan options, truckstop style brunch options for my gluttonous boyfriend who loves meat, and for brunch for four people totaling less than $30. and for having fucking POLENTA for breakfast. POLENTA! i love that shit! and covered with vegetarian chili no less...yum. avoid the home fries, veg-people!
(4)Sarah S.
Yes, Sorella's has a "kooky, kindergarden atmosphere"--I'll give them that. But what lies beyond that, I'll tell you. Their breakfast options are so sorted, so random and wild, that the staff almost improbably follow suit. For the past several times I've eaten there (because it's the closest breakfast joint to my boyfriend's house) I've either been turned down at the door ("Sorry, we just closed"--Even when people have obviously just been seated and are still reviewing the menu!) or it's taken me extra-long to be seated. Yesterday was the final straw & that's why I'm writing. The wait was 30 minutes; and just as we passed this half-hour marker, all the parties after us were seated, well, before us, prompting my boyfriend to ask a waitress what's up. She said there were two tables ahead of us. How could that be? We'd gotten there over 30 minutes ago, done our penance, and now were watching everyone we observed arrive go break bread ahead of us. Of the food, the selections are great, but the quality is hit or miss. Sometimes my eggs are runny when I wanted them scrambled; my hashbrowns not cooked enough. And, what's worse, they're stingy with the napkins. Come on, Salmonella's. Stop being so schizo. Seat your patrons, serve your patrons, and don't gimme no lip. Make that with a side of extra napkins.
(2)L-Train A.
Sorella's is a place that gets five stars in many categories, but then also has some one star stuff going on. They have an insane number of different kinds of omelettes. Insane. And the food is pretty darn good overall. It is kind of fun too because it is physically eclectic. It was originally two row homes, and you kind of weave around through different rooms to get seated. They ought to play this up, and make it feel kind of homey and cozy, but they don't. The one-star stuff is that they just aren't nice to you. Not mean per se, but just no warmth, smiling, etc., and I kind of feel relieved when we are done and it's time to go so I am no longer bothering these people by being in their restaurant. And the coffee is mediocre, but refilled constantly.
(3)Heather K.
Sorellas is one of JP's hidden gems. Yes, it's kind of divey, yes, it's small and cramped, and yes, the waitresses can be a bit sassy but these qualities are all part of the charm. The omelet and pancake/french toast options are vast and I've never ordered something that I wasn't 100% happy with.
(5)Christine C.
If I were writing this review a few years ago, it would have been much better. I used to think that this was the ultimate breakfast place. What changed? Well, I tried it again recently and was disappointed in the service (it took a VERY long time to order and get water filled) and the food (underdone food and a weird taste on the bread). I actually tried it TWICE thinking that maybe they were just having a bad day. It was bad both times. Sorry, Sorella's...
(2)Katie W.
I am not sure what all the hype is about Sorella's. The first time I ate there I must have been influenced from rave reviews and the overwhelming menu. I ordered Andrea's Omelette and thought it was great. I ate there a few more times, ordering other things such as pancakes (which must have been cooked next to an omelette because they tasted like garlic), some vegetarian thing with tempeh which was nasty, and french toast (also tasting of garlic). I don't know if it was the fact that I noticed they put the food that's ready to be served in this little window down by the cook's feet, but the next time I ordered Andrea's Omelette I thought that was gross too. So if you don't know whether you want sweet or savory next time you go out to breakfast, head over to Sorella's and order yourself some pancakes.
(2)Rachel G.
i used to live a block away from this place and it was dangerous! every weekend, forget waiting on the insane line to eat there...we would call ahead and get take out and eat in the comfort of our home with cartoons and pjs! the simple egg sandwich is perfect...however...it's all about the banana peanut butter muffins. they are beyond heavenly. like, freaking amazing! i've tried to make my own recipes and they just don't come out the same. the price is right as is the coffee. a nice little tough to jp!
(4)Tim B.
My girlfriend and I prefer Centre St. Cafe for a basic breakfast but if you want a little something out of the ordinary Sorella's is great.
(4)Bri T.
cheap cheap cheap! good food and (once you are seated) quick and friendly service. although it could be cleaner -- this is overall a great brunch place!
(3)Paul I.
Great breakfast spot! Make sure to go on a weekend or holiday, when you can get into the upstairs. The menu is HUGE.. full of specialty omelets, pancakes and french toasts. And the walls downstairs are covered with additional menu items, dreamed up by customers, no doubt. The waitstaff is polite and kind, if not always prompt. Their mimosas have no orange pulp -- so pulp lovers beware! :)
(4)Gail L.
Imagine EVERY ingredient possible, then choose about 10 or 12 of them, then have it made into the most tasty omelet you've ever eaten. The menu doesn't begin to hold all the options available to you...the walls are covered with many, many more, named after friends, employees, relatives and regular customers..it's a family run business, and they all work here. Fresh squeezed juice, vegetarian hash, and more kinds of pancakes than you've ever thought possible. My favorite...pumpkin cranberry walnut...you don't need syrup, but you can have fruit and whipped cream on top...only drawback is the coffee...not very good
(5)Stephen S.
Sorella's is completely the jam for breakfast if you know what you are doing. Tiny crazy space crammed full of people and rad waitstaff, lines half as long as the ones for Centre St. Cafe, and the pancakes are like basically doing it in your mouth they are so good. HERE IS THE PROBLEM: They have a lot of crazy omelets that look insane and wonderful but which are just sort of like a pile of ingredients in an egg sleeve. So, for example, you might order the "Jennifer's Special" (or whatever) and then it comes and you take a bite and it is all EGG + RASPBERRY. But then the next one is just EGG + CASHEWS, and then suddenly you are wrestling with an entire half-avocado sitting in there and you slump over because the point of an omelet is that all the ingredients are friends, co-mingling with each other in a big egg playground. SO If you are a breakfast spartan like me and like your eggs over easy then it is a great place to go, but ALSO it is a good place to play a BREAKFAST PRANK.
(3)mike G.
Really good breakfast. We got omelette's a split an order of banana mango pancakes. I the pancakes were good but I don't think its the best combo to order, and my eggs were a bit runny. Also, we had to wait for 40 minutes and it took a while to get our food. Overall I would go back. HUGE MENU!
(4)Day B.
It's really hard for me to even give this restaurant three stars, because every time I go there something happens that isn't cool. However, they do have good food, so that counts for something. Otherwise, I cannot recommend them. First of all, I don't find their staff to be very friendly, and this is based on several visits over 4 years. They never smile it seems. Second, their food is way overpriced...to add blueberries to the pancakes, I've seen them charge $3-$4 extra, and that's unacceptable. Third, I've seen my order get messed up more than twice. Perhaps this stings more becuase I tend to go on the weekends, after I've been waiting a while and I'm hungry. I'd recommend going during the week or when it's not busy to avoid any problems.
(3)Heather Q.
Eh. It's the place you go to show off to your out-of-town friends how cool JP is. And you will. I know you will. The menu is large and varied, and sounds good in black and white, but I've found the execution to be lacking. The pancakes are dry, and if I recall correctly, you pay extra for syrup. The waitstaff is more than a bit flakey. I've waited as long as 15 minutes for my check because nobody could remember to get it for me.
(3)John D.
The menu at Sorella's raised my hopes for a delicious brunch, but ultimately, and on multiple occasions, I have left severely disappointed. Overall, the food is rather bland, but well put together. The prices are decent. My most serious misgiving is the service - AWFUL. They refuse to seat a party of 3 waiting for a 4th, and once your group is actually seated, you're likely to get one of their disinterested, unhelpful wait staff. Aside from the fact that the staff seem to hate you from the moment you enter, they are slow slow slow. Another disappointing brunch experience.
(2)Kristen G.
Some of the most interesting and exciting breakfast options I've ever seen. If you're looking for a fun, decorative atmosphere in which to have your first meal of the day, this is your place. I've gone with large groups, and the food always comes out moderately fast and accurate to how it was ordered. Try this place sometime.
(4)Lacey P.
This place has a kooky kindergarten atmosphere. Yeah they have 2 floors and an awe inspiring menu. It is vast and wide. But I feel like the waitstaff can't get it together, and I always wait a long time for my food and it is sometimes wrong. But there is very little breakfast going on in JP, so I guess this is tops.
(3)sandra q.
Sorella's is a homey, affordable joint. Their selection of omelettes and pancakes is huge and I love their Oatmeal-Carrot-Walnut pancakes! The staff is down to earth and friendly, you might even be called 'Hon'. There's always a line out the door and the place is always bustling.
(5)Sophie R.
Why is everyone so obsessed with Sorella's? Yes, they have a shitload of different options for your omelette or your waffles, but who cares if none of them are very good? Omelettes are stuffed with so many veggies (often still fridge temperature, I should add) that you can barely taste the thin layer of egg stretched around the bulging mass of innards. The toast served with your omelette will actually be soggy wonderbread, barely what one could call toasted. Your waffle will be topped with canned whipped cream that will have melted into a puddle on top of your defrosted strawberries or gelatinous blueberries, and will be served with crappy HFCS-laden "pancake syrup". Your bacon will be fatty and undercooked, served in a pool of its grease without draining. And Sorella's isn't even that cheap. If you got something with none of the fixings that might make it edible, or at least interesting, it'd be reasonable, but in that case you may as well just go to JP Licks for their Sunday morning waffles, and get better coffee to boot.
(1)Julie F.
Sorella's is family owned and operated-something that happens to be rare now in Boston. Sure sometimes there is a line but so what? If you get there on the earlier or later side of weekend brunch then you won't wait. The choices are unbelievable. Now i read some complaints about the service. My family is from JP and we always say hello and talk to whoever is serving us and we have never had a problem. The problem is when college age students come in to a family eatery and talk at the top of their lungs, cursing,etc. I wish the staff would be meaner and kick out those folks to tell you the truth. Though not perfect, it is a little taste of what having a neighborhood bus. is like and worth the experience. If you want 5 star everything then pay a whole lot more for your gentrifying experience. Oh! if you want to get a vegan breakfast in un-vegan friendly Boston then this is the place. While you may not be able to eat the pancakes there are more vegan options then just a bagel so you won't feel hungry while your non-vegan friends are eating.
(4)seana m.
Sorellas is my all time favorite breakfast/brunch spot. Sometimes the wait is terribble but I typically stick it out becasue the food is so good. It is cramped, not super clean and the staff isn't the friendlist. But the food rocks. I love the blueberry pancakes. They have mat, veggie, soy, endless coffee (high test and decaf), fresh squeezed juices, so many omlettes I can't even count em...and lots lots more.
(5)Sean E.
This place makes me long for good ol' JP. There's really not that many things that do that to tell you the truth. I can totally understand someone thinking Sorella's is a bit overrated. But I've had so many breakfasts out and about in this town and not many can beat Sorella's. And just like many places, the reason is simple. Fresh ingredients. Fresh fruits and veg, fresh breads, nuts, and a fresh and unique menu. Their french toasts are wonders to be reckoned with -- you can get 'em with french bread or challah, and probably a couple others that I can't remember. Yes, the place is popular on weekend so be prepared for a wait -- but of all the times I've been there it wasn't get any longer than 10 minutes max. It's also true the waitresses can be a bit surly, but never offensive. With food this good that's okay with me. Writing this makes me want to Zipcar my butt down there pronto. Oh, and the paying for syrup line that someone wrote on here earlier is a laugh. Peanut butter and banana pancakes *drool*...
(5)Melissa B.
Holy cow, this place is awesome. Excellent breakfast foods & worth the wait.
(5)Aaron D.
An omelette is never just an omelette. Sure, anyone can beat a couple eggs and fry them up with some goodies inside, but it takes a seasoned professional to put the right amount of the RIGHT ingredients in a breakfast you won't soon forget. That's how it is at Sorella's. With plenty of meat friendly and veggie friendly omelette options, everyone is sure to find something they'll love. It's cheap, it's quick, and the coffee is good. Don't be fooled by the out-of-date signage, Sorella's is where you want to be.
(4)Kristine A.
I had never been & was like sure why not, let's try some place new. The place is small & typical mom & pop place that only takes cash. Things to be made aware of when you get there not when the bill is coming Well there were people waiting outside & that meant a wait for a table which is to be expected on a weekend morning. When he said it would be like 5 or 10 min I thought great, not a long wait. Well since he didn't take my name down I wasn't sure how he was going to keep track of people as more & more showed up. He comes outside & starts taking names but the issue is how he put someone else's name before mine but says he knows I was there first. That totally backfired. They ended up getting seated before us & it was already 20 minutes later & hungrier of course. I mentioned this later & then finally got us in. Thank goodness we already knew what we wanted & ordered right away. The server was very friendly & helped us out right away. The have had written signs all over their restaurant & some of which is spelled incorrectly on their menu too. The have so many varieties of pancakes that it's hard to pick which ones you should get. Pretty damn tasty.
(3)Sophia E.
Was really disappointed since I had such high hopes for this place. Waited for 20 minutes for someone to take our order, was told to move tables because a bigger party was coming in... All of this would have been fine except for the fact that everything on our plates was undercooked. Ordered the eggs special over easy and got eggs that still had the raw whites. Two out of the three sausages were cold if that makes any sense. Everything was so rushed. With the manager yelling at his staff in plain sight of customers, we knew we wouldn't be coming back again. If they took their time and actually paid attention to their customers, it could have been a great spot in JP.
(2)Sylvia P.
Very affordable and extensive creative brunch menu. It's a small place but we got lucky and our party of 8 was seated pretty quickly. Definitely coming back.
(5)Allison M.
I had high hopes for this place as well and was disappointed. It appears as a small diner with diner type food which is fine. The food itself was ok. I had a Romeo omelette which comes with grape tomatoes and toast. The omelette came out and there was a random grape tomato just chilling on the plate. Like why is it just on the plate and not in the omelette? And I expected the tomatoes to be sliced..they were just whole tomatoes in an omelette. Also the toast had some green stuff on it. I'm pretty sure it was smeared avocado but they could've done better with that. I also dared to ask for jelly and it was so solid, I couldn't even try it. Probably won't be coming back again but it was an experience.
(2)Herb S.
I used to go to Sorella's when I lived near JP to get brunch on Sundays. Always had a great experience. Make sure to bring cash!
(5)Em J.
I used to live in JP, and this was one of my top places for brunch. I still visit every so often. This is a location that is best enjoyed dining in. It's best to go in smaller groups (maybe 4-5, tops). They have their regular menu full of great choices, and their walls are decorated with art AND other food suggestions - i.e. 10 additional pancake options, or omelet choices at any given time. The pricing is cheap, CASH ONLY, and the atmosphere is a very friendly, family-like business. Enjoy coffee with cheap brunch? Great! Unlimited refills, and they come around quite frequently to make sure you have what you need. It's a very quaint restaurant, and the first time I went there I almost missed it, walking by. For a simple, sweet weekend brunch, this is perfection. After enjoying a big meal here, walk around JP and head over to the pond. When the weather is lovely it makes for a beautiful Saturday afternoon.
(5)yoyo b.
Great pancakes but the rest of their menu is eh. Great service though. Very accommodating and kid-friendly.
(4)Margarita S.
I came here at 12 noon on Sunday and waited outside to get seated for about 20 min. The host was really nice and smiley girl. I got a round table next to the window though i was alone. The first thing I realized that they accept only cash. OK, it is reasonable for such a small place. I ordered a Neptune Omelette. About 5 min later the waiter said they ran out of avocado and offered a guacamole which was fine with me. The omelette itself was good thought it didn't have a promised guacamole. Oh well. The service was fast and welcoming though. Good for a family brunch but don't expect too much from this place.
(3)Stacy H.
if you love breakfast, you're going to come here. keep it simple silly: 1 CASH ONLY 2 literally dozens of omelette options with enough choices for you sweet teeth 3 vegetarian and vegan options galore: you can substitute anything for tofu or tempeh 4 coffee refills every 5 minutes? yes please (coffee is only decent though, so don't expect too much) 5 three different hot sauce options 6 not really good for big groups (ie 4+), since this is a smaller restaurant i had the neptune omelette, which was really fascinating and yummy: eggs with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, seaweed, topped with sprouts served with a side of home fries. yum! the spinach and seaweed meshed wonderfully, so that even someone like me who eats seaweed consistently didn't even recognize it until halfway through the omelette. definitely going to come back!
(4)Natasha M.
Sadly, did not enjoy our takeout breakfast. I ordered the french toast special and was not impressed. Home fries were dry, french toast was soggy, and tofu was bland (substituted for meat selections). Service was friendly though and they do not accept cards, so we had to run to the ATM.
(2)Nina H.
OMG someone roll me out of here!!! I can't seem to stay away. Every time I go I find something new to love. Omelets are divine. Pancakes are sinful. Price is perfect.
(4)Robert C.
When I first walked into the place, I just knew I was in for an awesome breakfast experience based on their home-dining ambiance. This is your legit ma and pa, comfort breakfast food joint doing all the right things to make you to feel welcomed and out feeling more than satisfied ready to take on the day. Omelette options are plentiful and cater to everyone's needs, and light! Waffles and toppings of your choice for your sweet tooth. Bottomless coffee :) Can't go wrong
(4)Yuka Y.
Sorella's is my favorite, no frills breakfast diner located in Jamaica Plains. About 10 minutes away from JP's ASPCA and literally across the street from Whole Foods. 50+ omelette options and the portions are always hearty. From pancakes to waffles, you are spoiled for choice here my friends. Amazing prices, ~$7 omelettes included with 2 pieces of toast. ++Recommend the Mexican omelette- the jalapeno peppers mixed with the melting cheese and salsa is great for my spicy fanatics. The owner with the Boston accent and the staff have always been sweet hearts. Martin's in Brookline used to be my favorite, but Sorella's is my new rave given that it's less claustrophobic. What makes a great diner is not only the food but also the atmosphere. I like my diners having this dated feel without the rushed service or the claustrophobic feels. I like my diners as a place where I can dress like shit, a place with the homey feels. The decor is charming. Stepping into Sorella's feels like a step back into the 80s. The walls are adorned with all sorts of knicknacks from certificates, colorful construction papers featuring hand written new menus, to a plaque of the state of Chicago. You can seriously play a game of "I Spy" with the things plastered along their turquoise-on-pink walls. All around a charming place, a Boston keepsake.
(5)Carolyn P.
My husband and I enjoyed the atmosphere. We sat in the front with the doors open which was great with a cafe feel and our waitress Jess was very personable and great to talk to. We ordered appetizers for our first visit and the bacon wrapped steak was excellent along with the portobello mushroom and peppers. The owner came over to greet us and it was just a very nice relaxing experience. We will be back!
(5)Ia J.
A solid 'meh' for the breakfast burrito. Can't speak to anything else on the menu.
(3)Brian L.
Brags (+): Dependably good. I've only been there for brunch, but I always go there knowing get a satisfying meal. The menu is expansive, although it does seem like they just made a name for every conceivable permutation of their ingredients. The cornbread french toast is excellent, and every kind of omelet I've gotten has been nom-tastic. Beats (-): The food can be a little slow at times, and the setting isn't the most comfortable. I would bump it up to 5 stars if the environment was a bit more comfy/sleek. Variance (~): Unfortunately, every time I've been to Sorella's, they take us to the extension seating area, which is up through a separate entrance outside the main door. It just doesn't seem as nice as the main area, but the food is the same, ostensibly.
(4)Casey W.
Very quaint restaurant owned by a helpful, local gentleman. We had a great breakfast and felt very welcome while we were there. Definitely plan on going back in the future
(5)Mallory R.
At first glance, Sorella's seemed like a great place. I was charmed by the quaint decor and amazed at how huge the menu was. My two friends, one a carnivore and one a vegan, and I decided that we would always come here because everyone could find something they liked. However, as we examined the menu and the decor longer we started to fall out of love. Why are there FOUR sections devoted to omelets? You can choose from: Omelets, New Omelets, Exotic Omelets and Special Omelets. A section labeled Good Omelets would have probably been enough. This was on top of the other usual brunch fare such as breakfast burritos, crepes, pancakes and waffles. I've watched enough Kitchen Nightmares to know that a menu that is too large often means that the quality cannot be assured. It calls for too much product to be kept on hand, and for the kitchen staff to be pulled in too many directions. I ordered a fruit crepe, my vegan friend ordered the vegetarian hash with 2 scrambled eggs (don't judge, it's her life) and my other friend ordered a breakfast burrito. As we waited for our food we began to see the decor for what it really was: cheap. The room we were in had a bay window in the front that was sporting one lacy curtain on just one of the window panels. There was a lot of cheap art from Bed, Bath & Beyond and they hung identical paintings right across from each other. I honestly have no idea what kind of atmosphere they were trying to set here. It all just made me worried about what the back of the house (the kitchen) looked like. When we did receive our meals, our growing fears were addressed. Our plates we haphazardly thrown together. My vegan friends meal looked like a mess and she found bacon in her vegetarian hash. My crepe was completely uncooked and seemed to be held together with fluff. It was good, for what it was, but it wasn't what I was expecting. My other friends breakfast burrito was huge but nothing to write home about. We ended the meal with an agreement that we would go to City Feed and get some good coffee and snacks that would actually be worth our money. We decided ice cream sundaes were necessary as well. Overall, the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't feel good about the meal I had. It just seemed like a dirty restaurant. If they were to trim down their menu and clean up the place I think I would return but for now it's off my radar.
(1)Alexa B.
I had the cornbread French toast. My goodness it was fantastic. The staff was friendly and everyone who walked in was treated with a smile. Despite being full everything showed up quickly and cooked perfectly!! Definitely worth a visit!
(5)Joshua D.
I used to love this place, until I came here too often and saw their flaws. Here are the problems with Sorella's: They don't care about you, and when I say this I mean because they are usually so busy the service is lax and comes with a slight bit of superiority, like they don't need your business because business is booming. THe food they serves isn't always fresh, My friend has been served rotten raspberries before and they didn't seem to mind. They don't give you a receipt that anyone but the person who wrote it can read and when you ask for a readable written slip, they get real upset. The major problem is they don't care.
(1)Lydia V.
I love this place! It's my favorite brunch place in Jamaica Plain! They specialize in exotic omelettes and savory crepes! Their freshly squeezed is amazingly addicting but expensive. It's small and cozy. Cash only!
(5)Michael W.
As we walked in to this restaurant we were greeted from across the room with a loud bellowing "for two?" from a giant warrior-of-a-man behind the counter. We either nodded or perhaps we shook our heads vertically in terror, I can't really be sure. The gentle giant made his way to our table with a friendly "good morning!" and provided us with menus for which to plan our conquest. Miss Sarit got her usual eggs over-easy and home fries, I went a bit savage and got in touch with my Portuguese heritage and ordered the spicy Portuguese omelet. As it was laid upon me, I tilted my head back; challenge accepted. I laughed at the option of substituting ingredients for tofu or even tempeh. I readied my utensils of war and strategized a battle plan for attacking this Goliath of a foe. Shall I try a slingshot? Nah, that's been done in biblical times. A fork and a knife? Now there's a challenge worthy of my breakfast plate. As I cut in to my enemy, the spicy sausage and cheese split apart like sausage and cheese will when in the presence of greatness. As I sampled my enemy's defenses, I could not help but to savor the sweet sensation of chaotic dominance. Shall I go for the sausage? The cheese? The peppers? The jalapenos? Salsa? Home fries!? Go big or go home, or as we like to say in Portugal, "Go big-o or go el casa-o." I went for it all. I emerged victorious, and did mi familia proud. This plate is worthy of temptation. Give in to your indulgences and taste the suppleness of victory again and again. Revisit, and conquer a new dish; they have plenty to last you a lifetime. So many in fact, that they ran out of space on the menu and began listing them on the walls. Sorella's - Jamaica Plain, Boston's establishment of choice for the breakfast Conquistador within us all.
(4)Natanya A.
They have a wide selection of food, but it's all kind of bland. I do like that they're very vegetarian and vegan friendly. Cash only.
(3)Danielle R.
This place is truly family-friendly and delicious. Not only is the restaurant itself incredibly spacious (with ample seating available in their two dining rooms), but their menu is also so lengthy that everyone is sure to find something they'll enjoy for breakfast/brunch. We ordered the two omelette specials, the Romeo and Juliet, and thought they were both terrific. I've never seen a larger omelette selection anywhere in Boston. We also ordered the Greek French Toast, which was a recommendation by our waiter. It was also very good; the bread was similar to challah which is classically known to be great for french toast. Minus one star because the service can be slow and the restaurant itself is slightly off the beaten path. Definitely a cute spot to seek out, though!
(4)Cassie C.
We really wanted to like this place, but they just dropped the ball too many times. We put our name in, only to have multiple parties called before we finally went in to ask (including a party called multiple times) - our name had gotten crossed off. We finally got to sit and then it took a bit to get our order in. After that, things mostly improved - server was cool, pancakes and cornbread french toast were very tasty. The savory was good but nothing extraordinary. Overall, it just seemed pretty disorganized.
(3)Bruce R.
This place made me think, "this is what you would get if you let a bunch of children play restaurant with a real restaurant." I would call it quirky and amusing if there weren't so many flaws Starting with the horrible coffee. You can get better java at 7-11 than that swill. Obviously they are cutting corners by using the bare minimum grounds, just enough to get the water to change color. A ludicrous, overblown and repetitious menu. 8 solid pages of small print basically repeating over and over small variations of the same dishes. YOU CANT CRISP THE %#&*@^& BACON??? HOW DO YOU SCREW UP BACON!!! So yeah, shitty bacon. Not just poorly cooked, it was really cheap, low quality thin bacon that was a flabby, anemic disappointment. Home fries were so-so. Omelet was thrown together very carelessly. Mushrooms were the featured ingredient, and there was exactly ONE sliver of mushroom in that omelet. "Specials" written in highlighter taped to EVERY wall. To read them, you would have to wander around between tables and lean over some poor diner to read them. There were no less than 20 "specials" taped up all over. When you have like, 200 items in your menu (not exaggerating) you need this too? Also, the place has two dining areas with different entrances, so you can't even get to whatever culinary nightmares are taped to the walls on the other side. Probably for the best really... Zero ambiance. White walls and lots of handwritten "specials" taped all over the place. Brusque, bordering on surly waitstaff. One positive; the price is reasonable for a large breakfast. It would be more reasonable if the food was any good.
(2)Kayla B.
My cousin and I were looking for a good breakfast spot last minute on a Saturday morning. so of course I go to my trusty yelp app and realize I have this place bookmarked. I know how people get with breakfast on the weekends so I called ahead to see if there was a wait. When the waitress shortly said "no" and hung up I was thrown off but I still wanted to try sorellas. When we got there it was kind of confusing to find but we eventually found the steps upstairs to the restaurant. It's a really interesting vibe. It's basically an apartment turned restaurant. The menu is fantastic though!!! There are pages and pages of options from sweet to savory. I find that most breakfast places really focus on one or the other, so to see so many creative options for both palates was dope. I have a sweet tooth so I went with the cornbread French toast. And OMG. The cornbread is so moist soft and flavorful I didn't even put syrup on it. The whipped cream and strawberries were enough. My cousin had the Scott's Special I believe it's called. The 3 eggs, home fries, bacon, and toast. Boring, but she had no complaints and she is a picky eater. The staff was very nice and I will definitely be back there soon. It's cash only though which sucks because I never carry cash
(4)Mk E.
Sorella's is the best place to get breakfast in JP. Possibly anywhere. (I dunno, I guess there are a couple other continents? I haven't visited them all.) Everything is delicious, the menu is huge, and the prices are as right as they get, particularly if you make it in time for an early bird special. I recommend the raspberry butterscotch pancakes, and I don't even LIKE pancakes. Plan ahead on the weekends, as the place gets packed (though they do open up the second dining room).
(5)Leesha Z.
We stumbled upon Sorella's on a late Sunday morning expecting there to be a wait. We walked in and to our surprise, there was plenty of seating. Sorella's looks more like you've just wandered in to your grandmother's house. The decor isn't all too great. Mismatched and bland. I could care less though, I was there for the food. The menu itself is massive. So much to choose from! After about 5 minutes, I decided to order the breakfast burrito and my boyfriend got the cornbread french toast special. My burrito was massive. I could only get through about half before tapping out. The flavors were good but there was a little too much cilantro for my taste. The cornbread french toast however was out of this world. It was fresh, moist and it came with the most delectable home made whipped cream on top which I could've just eaten that alone. Huge portion again. All of this came to about $25 with two fresh squeezed OJ's on the side. Not bad at all. I'll come here again for sure to try maybe their crepes!
(4)Andrea L.
I would eat here all the time if I could! So many choices and everything that was served looked delicious, as were my ginger, blueberry, hazelnut pancakes. Owner omnipresent and helpful. Great neighborhood legacy business in a sea of newcomers to JP.
(4)cath e.
Kind helpful w children Homey not fancy( who cares?) Quick service when it's not mobbed All kinds of choices for omelets and spicy choices for hot stuff people Locals are very happy here
(4)Ross L.
One of those places that's instantly familiar and where you feel instantly at home. At the entrance there's news articles praising the pancakes along with Zagat ratings too. The plain old regular pancakes were some of the best I've ever had and there's a ton of fancier varieties to chose from too. Egg was scrambled perfectly. The prices and portions are also extremely reasonable.
(5)Yvens G.
Not impressed... no care was put into mt breakfast. Best part was finding what seems to be a eyelash in my food. ...and in the 2014 they do not accept credit/debit cards.
(1)Nikki C.
Atmosphere was EXTREMELY loud. I has to yell at my friend sitting across from me. Service was slow and poor. The menu reads like a book. I was overwhelmed. Food is ok. Not high quality or inspired, but ok. Not stuff you can't get anywhere else. I got the steak tips and eggs (poached). The steak tips were dry, chewy and not cooked how I specified(medium), well done. They appeared to be precooked, then seared, they were luke warm. Home fries portion was skimpy and potatoes were not cooked fully, still mealy and a little hard. My poached eggs were also well done and not properly poached, both yolks were solid (disappointing). My poached eggs were also put on top of my toast, making the toast soggy. The coffee was also terrible. It tasted a bit like soil. I ate with other people and we were unable to read the hand written reciept we were given, other than the total in black sharpie. A friend, who coincidentally arrived at the restaurant for brunch 15 minutes later, boasted her meal's and home frie's superiority was due to the fact she was a regular. That doesn't rub me the right way. I'll go back if someone else insists, but I wouldn't make the effort myself.
(2)Anthony L.
(Breakfast review) Before going to Sorella's, do yourself a favor and tap into your cravings before you go in. The menu is daunting, but in a great way. It's *HUGE* and there are other random choices that are scattered on the walls. Seriously, huge. My experience very much reminded me of Seinfeld's "The Soup Nazi"... when my waiter (a really nice tall/large man) came over, I felt the urge to say, with a straight face, "PUMPKIN PANCAKE - COFFEE - WATER - SYRUP" without even saying "please, thank you, and may I have." Whatever, it's their culture and I need to adapt. The portions are large and the food is, wait for it, amazing. Everything is reasonably priced, which brings me to the next thing, it's cash only... bring your cash.
(4)Alex J.
Went for brunch this weekend and immediately regretted it. Staff was clearly overwhelmed, so we got bad food and worse service. The polenta dish I ordered was bland and poorly conceived, and the banana walnut french toast was an offense to the very idea. It was more like pieces of dense banana bread thrown on a griddle. Took an hour to get a refill on my tiny cup of coffee. Don't waste your time.
(1)Ad P.
Wonderful neighborhood gem. Come with an empty belly, leave with a full one and your taste buds satisfied. Try fhe Texas French Toast, pumpkin walnut pancakes, and the Neptune Omelet (among the 9 million options...)! Tip: go early; cash only as of 2014.
(5)Dan G.
I can't believe I haven't written about Sorella's yet! Been coming here off and on for the past few months and I love it. Good luck finding parking though if you decide to come during peak times. The downstairs room can get REALLY hot as it is very small and a little too cozy. The wait staff are always amazingly friendly and full of love, I love them! The food is delicious and huge, plus they have a ton of very creative omelets to choose from! Or make your own. One thing that makes me sad...they always forget part of my order :( and are usually so busy that they still forget it :( :(
(4)Hannah R.
In my mind, there are three downsides to Sorella's: 1) it's cash only, and 2) they don't serve bloody marys, and 3) there must be 100 menu items at least--so hard to choose! I lived down the street for awhile, and I ate here nearly every weekend. Someone mentioned in their review how fun it is to see OKCupid morning after dates happening there--I can attest that it is a great game to play spot the awkward. The food is always filling, and even if you ordered the same thing every time, it would probably be different with each order. The variety and creativity of the ingredients is truly amazing, and no one would ever expect it to judge this place from the outside. I highly recommend the Neptune omelet. It has seaweed salad in it!
(4)Yelena Y.
I think this place is over rated. Staff is incredibly friendly bit the food was bland and boring.
(3)Joseph Z.
Terrible service and very mediocre food. We were not told the hours and then rudely rushed in and out. Looked like a quaint family place with interesting and appetizing menu items that turned out to be a major disappointment. Avoid this place if you can.
(1)Adria R.
I'd give this place 2.5 stars if I could. Not great, not horrible. I really wanted to like it, because I love non-fancy/non-trendy diners and this is definitely neither. I also like a little quirk, which this place had. I didn't mind the weird/random decor and the menu was certainly an entertaining read. The good: We were able to be seated right away at 11am on a Sunday. The wait staff was prompt, if not particularly friendly. There is no lack of menu items, quite the contrary. If you stick to the basics, eggs, toast, etc. you'll probably be satisfied. The bad: -They only accept cash. -The coffee was horrible. Poor flavor and so weak that when the server came to refill I held off (which I never do), because the coffee was the color of strong tea. -The menu is too large. This isn't always a bad thing, but there must be some organization to the menu items (rather than dishes comprised of randomly thrown together ingredients). And the list of ingredients they have to keep on hand is so extensive that I would question the quality and whether they even have a kitchen/pantry big enough to safely accommodate it all. -The food was mediocre at best. My omelette was missing the avocado it should have had in it, and my husband's omelette was about twice the size of mine with the same amount of ingredients. Both omelette's had a HUGE pile of chopped RAW garlic in them. I love garlic, but this was So. Much. Raw. I'm still tasting it near bedtime. The bacon was undercooked, and the home fries were unevenly cut and mushy. All this said, if I lived nearby and didn't have to go out of the way, I'd probably go back. Maybe I'm a glutton for breakfast that I don't have to make myself!
(2)SR F.
Several years ago my wife and I went to Sorella's and hated it.. wanting to stay local today, we decided to give it another try. What a pleasant surprise.. move over Mike's and Victoria's ( Center St Cafe is now closed). We arrived just before the kitchen closing hour, but my finger wagging wife prevailed and they were kind enough to accommodate us. ( We had called and seating is open until 1:30, nonetheless). Shared a great Denver omelet, fresh squeezed oj, has browns close to perfection, homemade muffin, real butter ( all was very good and the muffin was great!) Two faults: better coffee, and for me the perfect breakfast place has to have homemade corned beef for the hash and bathroom was unkempt; ergo the 4 stars. We will be going back.. menu was varied with creative selections, too late today for the specials ( corn bread french toast??!!) ummmm picky ones ~
(4)Karen R.
To quote my friend: "This place is so JP that it almost hurts." And she would be absolutely right. I was super impressed by the extensive omelette menu (which included many vegetarian options). I ultimately settled on an omelette that had capers in it (yum!). Service was generally pleasant and efficient. I deducted 1 star for two reasons: It drives me crazy when places are cash only and the interior was a little confusing (we definitely entered through the wrong door). Overall, I'm looking forward to making a return trip.
(4)Margaret N.
We went to Sorellas yesterday for a late morning breakfast and had one of the most disappointing dining experiences I have ever had. Our waitress was obviously "in the weeds", eventually (after at least 15 minutes) a guy came over and took our order. We asked for refills on our coffees (when we left 60 minutes later we had still not received the coffee we continued to ask for). When breakfast arrived 3 out of 4 at our table were served, no mention was made of whether mine was on it's was. The maple syrup we ordered (and paid for) also never arrived for anyone's order. I eventually (at least 5 minutes later) asked if my meal was coming- the guy went to check, came back and said it would be another 3 minutes. After 5 minutes he came and delivered an unordered (and unwanted) bowl of fruit to tide me over until the pancakes were ready. This fruit had quite obviously been removed from another table, there was butter on the orange slices and was just a disgusting offering. 10 minutes later he delivered my pancakes in a take out box, we had mentioned that we were running late and he took it upon himself to assume I would prefer to eat my pancakes in the car???? He dropped our check, they are handwritten and completely illegible (probably why the kitchen never got my order in the first place)- he told us we had not been charged for my breakfast however when we did the math it was quite obvious that we had been (along w/ $6 of maple syrup that we never received). Because we were in fact in a hurry we just paid and left (leaving the now unwanted to go pancakes). While I can certainly understand honest mistakes this was probably the worst string of events that I've ever experienced in a single meal. Throughout the entire process neither our waitress or the guy who had continued dealing w/ us were remotely apologetic or helpful. We will never go back to this sorry excuse for a restaurant.
(1)John S.
Dude, who designed the menu for this place? It's longer than those receipts you get at Shaw's that come with like 70 coupons for shit you don't need! Actually, in some ways, the menu actually reminds me of those receipts. The people who have served me at this place have always been friendly...even when I have to ask for help navigating like 20 food items that are all labeled 'funky.' It all looks good, so I always go with whatever tell me to eat. If you don't feel like warming your server up in order to get high end food, bring your overly social / enthusiastic friend(s)! That's what I do. I met the Big Guy who worked there for 15 years...he's still working there. He told me a legend of a time not so long ago when JP wasn't filled with aging hippies and baby boomers and whatnot. He said it was rad and that the crowd at Sorella's was actually cool. It made me feel like I was in on the whole thing - part of the cool table just for acting like I was interested! It was an unmistakable feeling of superiority that took over my stomach and mind, but coated in so much reminiscence that it was difficult to digest... Anyway, my food was pretty good, too, and at an acceptable (if not particularly amazing) price point. So why is it that I don't totally want to go back? Maybe I just get the feeling that this place is Past Its Prime like so many of its patrons? Maybe I don't need that level of nostalgia with my breakfast? Maybe I'll stop back in a year or so, sooner if the other places in the area go out of business. I really can't be bothered to go back sooner.
(3)Sarah H.
I really like Sorella's, but I don't have high expectations for them (does that even make sense?). The food I've ordered has been great every time, but I've experienced friends or people sitting around me who had orders that tasted terrible or contained things that shouldn't have been in there. The staff are very unfriendly (don't expect any smiles or politeness) but I'm able to look past it as long as they aren't downright rude. The receipt is NEVER legible, and don't even bother asking them for one that's clearly written (or you'll get attitude). I usually have to ask them to clarify what exactly I'm being charged for to make sure I'm not being overcharged. The food itself is really good as far as I'm concerned, which is what keeps me coming back. And they have TON of choices! Also, they rarely do substitutions, so if you're a picky eater I wouldn't recommend this place.
(3)Lily B.
Wow, what a disappointment. My friend and I met up at Sorella's for breakfast on a Saturday morning. First, we ended up in the "no waitress" zone and had to plead for someone to take our order after 15 minutes of no attention. I ordered a breakfast burrito - that should easy, right? Instead I got a eggs mixed with sliced tomatoes (sliced? in a burrito?) which were cold with other vegetables that were also cold. And the burrito was folded as if a 3-year old did it and was stale. To top it off, my friend's sunny-side up eggs were delivered with the yolks broken - huh? Sub par food, sub par service, super sub par experience. What a shame.
(1)Jessie S.
I came here with my buddy for lunch and was not disappointed! I ordered a sandwich from the front of the menu, it had no name but consisted of egg, tomato, avacado, "hoomus," pepper, an unlabeled cheese and other stuff I can't recall. There might have been sprouts? Anyway it was delicious - while the ingredients were nothing special in name they were of impeccable quality, you could taste how fresh everything was and the flavors complimented eachother wonderfully. My vegetarian compatriot asked for a menu item with no meat and our server immediately offered to replace it with tofu or tempeh which I thought was kind of amazingly considerate. Good simple food done well with delightful staff. I'd return here!
(4)Gillian W.
I feel like some of these reviews must be talking about a completely different restaurant than the one I visited today. Sorella's is brightly decorated in a sort of Mom's kitchen way that I found very inviting and comfortable. The gentleman serving the dining area was attentive and friendly. The banana chocolate chip pancakes were the best pancakes I have ever had! They were somehow crispy on the outside and cake-like on the inside! My boyfriend also enjoyed the Chicago omelette. For a person who rarely takes a moment to observe their food before inhaling it, even HE had to note that the vegetables were perfectly cooked. I did not have any of the "brown water" coffee that everyone on here is whining about but I cannot imagine it would be anything offensive enough to lower my rating. We will definitely return :)
(5)Emily M.
This is a fun place to get breakfast! There is a huge menu with a lot of unusual choices (butterscotch raspberry pancakes was my most recent breakfast there). Don't forget to check out their choices all over the wall! There are a lot of good ones up that aren't on the menu! Their irish breakfast being a good example (this breakfast takes up four plates). The only thing I would say to stay away from is their crepes. There are many options that sound good, but the crepes themselves always have a weird chalky dry taste. Every other meal I've had here I've loved. Don't forget to bring cash!
(4)Laura A.
this review is for their omelette's and toast. the omelettes are original, FULL of awesome fillings (e.g., goat cheese, pine nuts, sprouts), and there are so many choices that it's hard to go wrong. coffee is sweet to order, lil' mugs with lil' cups of cream. prices are good. service is ok...did i mention prices are good? yum.
(4)Jeff O.
Been coming here for a few years now. The food is always quick and tasty. You might find yourself waiting outside for a table on a busy saturday, so pick a warm day to go. The menu is filled w/ crazy options most of which are time tested. I am a big fan of any of the pancake / french toast options on the menu. Sometimes the omelets can be a little too crazy for me.
(4)Jessica F.
Dear Sorellas - I have worked in restaurants since I was 15 (8 years). I get it - it's a Monday-holiday brunch and you don't have more than 2 people on the floor. I'm not expecting speed or attention - barely even friendliness. What I did expect this morning was a pancake WITHOUT plastic wrap in it that I almost choked on. Even then, not that bad, because things happen, but I expected an apology when I pointed it out! I expected the replacement pancake to have chocolate chips in it like the original order, but neither of those things happend. I didn't want sass when I asked for a fork after you took my first one. I don't care that you're cash only and don't use computers, but when I ask for a legible receipt so I could ensure that you weren't actually charging me $4 for that SINGLE pancake (you were), don't give me even more attitude. This isn't the only time I've had trouble at Sorella's. Impossible with substitutions (if you're going for the vegetarian special you HAVE to get multi-grain pancakes when the Big Guy's aunt/mom is working - obviously all vegetarians are HEALTHY), moldy fruit on the waffles, and inattention to food allergies. Additionally, potato hashbrowns have cheap seasoning and are rarely cooked through, the coffee is more expensive than something that you can find elsewhere in JP that is either organic and/or fairtrade, and you charge 1.25 for anything other than American cheese. I've overlooked all the above things for years because I like to solicit small family restaurants, but after today, never again. Enjoy that exuberant tip we left you despite all of this bologna because it isn't your poor server's fault that you never have more people on, but I will pay twice your outrageous prices at Centre Street or City Feed from now on.
(2)Christine V.
Best breakfast place in JP! You have to go at least once. They only accept cash and have been in business for 30 years. The nicest people work here. The food is homemade and delicious.
(5)Peter G.
Sorella's is a great little restaurant to come for breakfast in JP. The selling point here is the range of the menu options: there is nearly an overwhelming amount of quality breakfast choices. We enjoyed the Eggs Rockefellar and a steak omelet: both were delicious and obviously hand-made with fresh ingredients. Surprisingly, I thought the food quality exceeded the price they were charging for it. The restaurant has a strong following, so be prepared for a wait during peak hours. Downsides: namely the size, especially downstairs. It can get cramped, and it's unfortunate that so many people enter via the downstairs, providing a constant draft during the winter and standing very close to sitting patrons. Although we walked, I didn't see much in the way of parking besides the street. Also, not accepting plastic is inconvenient. All things being equal, Sorella's gives arguably the best value of casual breakfast in downtown JP - you can't go wrong with this menu. However, despite the food quality, the price is indicative of the restaurant's drawbacks. If they only had more space, this would be a solid 4.
(3)T C.
We've lived in JP for 10 years and go to Sorella's a few times a year. It's usually a quirky, tasty, and reliable place. Not fancy by any means. This morning, was really gross and disturbing. Two of our meals (both involving eggs) had hair in them. And then when we tasted the pancakes and waffles that we ordered, they tasted really foul: sour and not fully cooked, perhaps spoiled. We told the waiter and he seemed unconcerned. We encouraged him to have someone taste something made with the batter so that they wouldn't serve anything made with it to anyone else. He didn't really respond. At least they took the cost of those items off the bill. And all of the food was served cold. It's wasn't very busy. My hash was also super soggy. But we won't be back, ever.
(1)Allison B.
I had been looking forward to trying this place for a few weeks, sadly - wasn't even given the chance to do so! I stopped by on a Saturday to be greetly rudely by what I can only assume was a waitress. She quickly yelled out to me and my boyfriend that we had to go "3 doors down." I was taken a back as there were FOUR empty tables and turned to see what my boyfriend wanted to do. Before I could even asked, she yelled once more at use. Needless to say, we left and didn't "go three doors down." Very disappointed and would NEVER try this place again.
(1)Cagen L.
The idea of Sorellas is great. Reasonably priced creative dishes with great ingredients. Unfortunately something is lost in the execution. The food comes out quickly but there is little to no pride taken I'm the preparation. Its like some one who loves food designed the menu and then it is cooked by interns. If you need a quick breakfast and don't care how it tastes this is the place for you other wise steer clear.
(1)Nicole C.
This was one of the worst breakfast I've ever eaten. From the moment we sat down and brown swill water was placed in front of us, I should have known that we should leave. For one thing, despite the plethora of vegetarian and vegan options, the potatoes tasted like they had been in bacon grease. I didn't mind (since they were otherwise entirely flavorless) but the vegans in my group were displeased. I ordered the Acapulco polenta dish, which I was quite excited about. I expected it to be flavorful and fresh tasting (swill water aside). Instead, I was given bland polenta with no sign of the advertized jalapeno peppers. The guacamole tasted like diapers and (bizarrely) it was topped with broccoli, bland mozzarella cheese, and marinara sauce that had clearly just been opened and poured on top. Umm....what? It was disgusting. The others at my time didn't fare much better, although my partner's pancakes were decent. The horrible food aside, the service was ridiculous. The restaurant seems to be severely understaffed so the staff takes an intensely focused approach to managing everyone's needs. What these actually means is that bring you disgusting coffee (which they'll only refill once before charging you for a second cup) and then they ignore you for 25 minutes while they deal with other tables. Then they descend on you, brusquely demand your order, and bring your food out quickly since, you know, they just open up some cans and jars. The restaurant itself would possibly be charming if it weren't so dirty. The decor is a mix of Christmas bow, fake flowers, and "art" that looks as it it were taken from a Holiday Inn. I used the restroom (meh) and got a glimpse into the "cleaning closet". It was covered in a thick layer of grime and general filth. In retrospect, I realize that I didn't see a health score posted anywhere. Yes, it was cheap, but then I spent more money on decent coffee and a snack to get replace the awful taste in my mouth. Never. Again.
(1)mzamar x.
Another of the "am I missing something?" group. The food here is just sort of unspectacular and sometimes downright not good greasy spoon kind of affair. Also, as a bonus, I often feel nauseous when I leave. Like, are they washing the glasses out? Why are people so into this place? In a word, no.
(2)Fernanda P.
Great food! Loved the Toni's omelet. Live in JP and will definitely come back
(4)Katrina F.
There is nowhere else in the world where I can find cranberry walnut pumpkin french toast with sour cream topping, gingerbread french toast, or raspberry banana pancakes. I could eat breakfast there every day. The service is prompt, although I don't know if I recommend the coffee. Sorella's was featured on the food channel for their variety of french toasts (freshly baked and turned into toast) and they are my favorite restaurant in all of Boston. My husband really enjoys the omelettes as well. They come chock-full of tasty ingredients.
(5)Lee Q.
What is wrong with you all?! Sorella's is HANDS DOWN the worst place I've ever been to. Went with two friends one morning because its a short walk from where e stayed. One friend, who was playing host to us, wanted us, but we went anyway thinking he was exaggerating. NOPE! Food was bland and just not good. Our waiter was terribly disinterested and rather unpleasant. My friend ordered a side of turkey sausage with her food. Shorty after it arrived, the waiter returned and said, "I'm sorry but two of those sausages were for another customer, I have to take those back." Um, EXCUSE ME? You're really going take food that was already being eaten and give it to another guest? To add insult to injury, as he walked away from us, he flashed us his ass from the giant hole in his back pocket. I made sure to tip well because when restaurants are like that, it means management treats their workers like shit. Hopefully their manager didn't pocket those tips either.
(1)J K.
There are many things that rule about Sorella's: 1. The amazing woman on the first floor that is just so awesome. 2. The banana chocolate chip pancakes. 3. The sausage and egg sandwich on an everything bagel OH GOD YES 4. THE MAPS ON EACH TABLE. I like the juxtaposition of Chicago as a country next to Argentina. 5. The coffee that always seems to incite a panic attack after I have more than one cup. 6. How quickly the food arrives! 7. All of the okcupid morning after breakfast dates. AWESOME. Cash only! Bring cash dollars.
(4)Philip T.
We really liked this place. Great breakfast good friendly service. You could spend a month just trying out the omeletes!
(5)Raya M.
I'm gonna give this place negative 100 if I could. I live up the street and regularly walked by, so my bf and I decided to give it a try. Service was mediocre, but we didn't expect too much from a busy bfast place. But, we were super disappointed when out food arrived in dishes that looked link were never washed from the previous use. My Romeos omelette was gross to say the least. The avocado was straight up rotting and the rest of the ingredients were mashed together and not seasoned at all. I has about 2 bites and had to stop cause it felt like I mate get good poisoning. My bf got one of the bfast burritos. He ordered the one with chicken, but got beef instead. The beef tasted like dog food, his words, not mine. No one asked us how our food was? So we didn't bother share it. But I can honestly say that this is the worst place I've been to in my life. Don't go there, not worth your money!!!
(1)Clare M.
We love this place! I can't believe that it doesn't have 5 stars! The oatmeal pancakes (or oatmeal chocolate chips if your chocalately inclined) are absolutely delish, the service is friendly, the menu offers endless options (or so it seems) and its waaaay better value than that other place further down center st...and usually, if you hit it just right, you don't have to wait for a table like you do at that other place. Every time we have guests, this is where we take them. Yummy, homey, and a great place to start your weekend...or any day of the week actually.
(5)Jen B.
I have been coming here, on and off, for more than 20 years. I am vegetarian and it is super easy to eat here. The eggs are just right, the potatoes are not over cooked over oiled or over spiced- delicious! My personal favorite: pumpkin,walnut and cranberry pancakes- can't beat them. Fresh squeezed OJ is great. Almost any eater can have a delicious breakfast at a reasonable price in a casual, quaint environment with friendly staff.
(5)Terra N.
It's totally small downstairs and the tables are pretty close together. I like cozy restaurants because it's kinda like we're having a fun gathering with strangers and wanting to steal their food cause it looks so yummy. The decor is questionable and kinda tacky in my opinion, but at the same time very unique and shows the character of the owners. I really hate fake flowers in vases; I'd rather have fresh flowers or clutter-free. I ended up enjoying the Crepe del la Susanna? Which 5 minutes later, they realized they did not have goat cheese which made me sad, but I'm not a fussy twat like some people and just substituted feta. Also got a side of tamarind, garlic, spinach tempeh which was okay. I was expecting more flavor. The refills on coffee were pretty much every five minutes which is nice because the cute coffee cups were clearly being reused which I love. As a server, I was sad that they staggered on bringing out the meals (not proper restaurant etiquette) but it's understandable because breakfast food can cool fast, so you want it out right away. I got my meal last and it was okay. The feta cheese was in huge chunks but I loved the avocado, tomato, red peppers, spinach, and yummy walnut sauce that it came with. There was a hint of either paprika or mystery spice which added a nice smokey flavor. The homefries it came with was meh. Had a bite of other people's pancakes, and they were good. Actually I kind of have an upset tummy right now. TMI? :( I almost forgot to mention that they gave us complimentary fruit plate which was really nice of them, and we just ordered a couple of minutes earlier than that. Might come back again, but there are other places that are much closer to where I live and frequent that I'd rather go to. I'm not being fair because I ultimately wanted to go to Paris Creperie in Coolidge Corner but caved to majority. Everyone else pretty much cleaned their plate which is good, but now I feel like a picky eater. The server was really nice and outgoing and he was most definitely patient with us who were new to the 9 page menu and specials.
(3)L. S.
I've been here a few times, and while it's not the best brunch place in Boston, I haven't found a better cheap place in Jamaica Plain. I've always been happy with their pancakes, and my friends are a big fan of their french toast and the gingerbread pancakes. The home fries are inconsistent, and I can't comment on their eggs, since I really don't like breakfast eggs. It is rather cramped, and is usually very busy during brunch hours, but it's not intolerable. The service varies from excellent to mediocre, depending on the server and the day. If you have a hankering for pancakes and don't want to shell out $15 for brunch at some fancy place, Sorella's is an excellent choice! Just remember to bring cash, as they don't accept credit cards.
(4)Chris M.
Definitely feels like an average diner - no mistaking that. What's above average is the menu. They're a diner that cares about serving you something different, something better than your sausage and eggs or whatever. Not sure the quality of each of their ingredients but it seems like they know what they're doing. They are also more than happy to accommodate vegans such as myself with tofu and knowing to leave out delicious things like cheese. Their breakfast burritos are huge and their hot sauce is hot. (but not too hot) Their OJ is the perfect thing to suck down in the morning. Their coffee was burnt tasting and not too fresh, but I let it slide because it's a diner and I hadn't gotten much sleep that night. I would come back. It would take me quite a few visits to try the whole menu...
(4)Howe L.
I dont mind the bare-bones, homy charm of this place. But the food is merely average, if that. However, extra star for the not so average selection and portion sizes.
(3)Jason S.
Food is quick, decent, too many choices, friendly inside staff. Unfortunately your first interaction is with an older lady outside who takes your name. She was really weird asking to keep someone dog, throwing her candy wrappers on the street. Couldn't be a worse "face" to your business for those who never been yet inside.
(3)Karen L.
We had a really bad brunch here this morning. I went with 3 friends, two of whom had the Neptune omelet, which seemed crazy (although they liked it). I had the Cha-Cha omelet--a Tex-Mex style thing made severely mediocre by below-average ingredients (canned black olives, cruddy salsa), possibly the worst "home fries" I've ever had (boiled potatoes partially rewarmed and sprinkled with paprika), and wheat toast that resembled cardboard more than food. My friend had what was theoretically homemade corned beef hash that, tragically, smelled and tasted like canned hash (at best) vs. Alpo (at worst). We unenthusiastically took a few bites of the egg nog "French Toast," which is basically dry cake crusted with some fried egg and covered with canned apple pie filling and whipped cream. Apparently, sprinkle of cinnamon = egg nog. The one positive was the plentiful (if otherwise average) coffee. Perhaps the impatient, crusty service is part of the charm for some people, but to my mind, it just completed the "we don't give a fuck about you or your fucking breakfast" picture. I was told by the Neptune-eating friends that prior experiences at this joint were better. However, after today's breakfast, I cannot for the life of me understand the appeal of this place, or why anyone would come here more than once.
(1)Basile T.
If you like a big menu, you're in the right place! They pretty much have every type of omelette you can think of. I personally think the menu is too big, and the food is very good for a diner-like place. Definitely try it out.
(4)Lynette S.
How sad that the big guy who always seems to be there had a tantrum when i asked him something. he tried to intimidate and embarass us and it did not work. I did not think it was good that he referred to the waitress as "the spanish girl" and and qccused us of not having enough money to pay the bill. (entirely untrue!) he needs to get a life. Result = not going back!
(1)Gray S.
I recently moved to a place about three blocks away from Sorella's. I had been there maybe four years ago and had a positive experience so I was excited to have a cute little breakfast joint near at hand. My repeat visit was sadly lacking. 1) My friend was served spoiled milk for which they were not very apologetic. Honestly this is forgivable, It was in a little seal bottle so this probably wasn't their fault. Still, gross. 2)My friend ordered eggs Benedict, which comes with three eggs. He was only served two, which he didn't notice until he was just about finished eating everything and someone from the kitchen came out with a poached egg in a bowl and handed it to him telling him that they had forgotten an egg. Ok, weird but again forgivable. 3) Ok, so my actual complaint. I ordered their home made blueberry bread french toast. Yum right? Bread with blueberries in it, I've never even seen that, how novel! Except this isn't blueberry bread, it's "blueberry bread", You know that tea bread that's not bread at all, it's like a muffin or cake incognito as bread? Yeah so the french toast is really that, three huge slices of very sweet cake, dipped a tiny bit in eggs, and warm. It's not bad blueberry bread, but it's not french toast and three slices of the stuff is way more cake than anyone should have for breakfast. Also I splurged and ordered mine with real maple syrup, I was excited they had it, I hate that fake stuff. However I would have to be a masochistic diabetic or a 5 year old child to put it on top of the already very sweet cake I was served. The place has a greasy spoon atmosphere at best and the prices aren't great enough to excuse it. They have a huge menu, which is kind of paralyzing to consider in the early am, but offers a lot of options. They had a $6 minimum per person, so don't bring your not so hungry friend in for a cup of coffee and an English muffin. All this said, I will probably be back to give them another chance since they are so close by. I will get an omelet next time and I will let you know how it goes.
(2)Erica B.
Sad. When I first moved to JP, almost 12 years ago, I really enjoyed Sorella's. Yes, the coffee was bad, but it was a reliable, kid-friendly option that served reasonable food and was very vegetarian friendly. But over time it has become terrible. I don't mind the sometimes surly service (only the big guy is good), or the unnecessarily long menu. But the food and hygiene have reached a low that is repulsive. Nothing's fresh or generous anymore. The final straw for me was when I went in there with my nephews (little boys) and had to take one if them to the bathroom (which is filthy and basically in the kitchen) and I got a good look at the cramped and downright dirty, disorganized kitchen. Then we were served pancakes made from spoilt batter! When we sent them back, the Big Guy didn't apologize, just made an excuse. didn't offer to remake them or bring something else. Moments later we found red hairs in one of the kid's eggs. They don't serve real syrup except at an up charge, no vegetables in food anymore... I could've handled it. But rotten batter and hairs and a filthy bathroom in the kitchen? Never again. Nasty.
(1)Gary L.
This place is pretty spacious, with three different rooms, one on the bottom floor (looks dark and smokey), and the other two on the first floor (bright and clear). The menu is large, including pancakes, muffins and omelette's, and all the American classics. Now, the omelet section is divided into FOUR sections. First I was impressed. However after reading further, I realized that the ingredients were all the same, but shuffled in different combinations. I looked for a omelet with meat, and most are vegetarians. (What?) I settled for the Chicago omelet, with spinash and bacon. Came with tasty potatoes and toasts. Everyone seems to be pretty happy with the breakfast. I guess this place is not into meat...?
(4)Allison J.
Good service good food. We loved our waiter, Vinnie. I love the handwritten menu items on pieces of paper taped to the wall. But it's hella confusing and the menu is giant. Very cute place with great service. Characters... they're all characters. Love it. Portions were generous and the pancake assortment dizzying. Not the place to come to if you're on a diet.
(4)Julia C.
I found this place to be unremarkable. To me, every item on the omelet menu seems to be a smorgasbord of random vegetables, with similar ingredients mentioned in different orders for different dishes, but named differently. Also, there weren't enough omelets that involved meat -- a big negative for me. I'm sure I could've customized an omelet to have meat in it, but I don't like hassling waitstaff with modifications, plus I like having plenty of meat-incorporated options already laid out and described in juicy details on the menu page. The place seemed to be a hit with the vegetarians in the group I went with, but alfalfa sprouts need to stay the heck OUT of my breakfast omelets.
(2)Meg C.
If you like grumpy people serving you great omelets and pancakes, I have a place for you. Sure, this is not the place to go when you want to be coddled, but it is great for cheap, comforting food. The menu is huge and I kind of wonder who would order half the mixtures offered. First things first, you have to ask for the real maple syrup. I noticed that the regulars asked for it up front, they didn't even wait for the fake crap to show up at the table. We started with a muffin, grilled of course. I believe it was mango and ginger, the flavors were not overbearing. It was really, reeeeally good. Not too sweet or dry. I split banana pancakes and a denver omelet with my cousin. The pancakes were divine with the real syrup. I'm super picky about pancakes and almost never order them at restaurants, but these were great. Nice and fluffy, not tough at all. They came with bananas in the batter as well as fresh slices on top. I want to try the gingerbread next time, they sound heavenly. My omelet was solid, the veggies were cooked until just tender. The eggs were not overcooked, a regular mistake at many diners. The potatoes were kind of forgettable, as was the coffee. If they could just fix those two things, I'm sure it would be a 5-star business. Go on a weekday and you might not have to wait in line for an hour.
(4)Vera K.
I really enjoyed my meal here with my friend. The atmosphere was nice, felt like being at a family member's house. My omelet was delicious, there were plenty of menu options, including scrambled polenta, which is a nice gluten free/egg free alternative for breakfast. Affordable! Seating was a little tight, felt like everyone next to me was hearing my conversation. Homefries were less than delicious. 2 customers had a melt down next to me after their order wasn't taken fast enough and they stormed out, which resulted in one of the chefs in the back coming out and grilling everyone if their orders had been taken, and the rest of waitresses frowning. I thought the customers who left were totally out of line to be so impatient, but the staff's reaction almost made it worse.
(4)Evan G.
Possibly my favorite thing about Sorella's is their awning which says DINNER BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER. Why is this notable? Because they don't serve dinner. At all. Ever. What they are is a diner, and whoever got that awning made just can't spell. On to the food-- this place is great if you get the right things. They have a huge menu, but most of it is omelets with various combinations of ingredients. I usually get one of their really simple eggs and toast breakfast specials, which are hard to mess up. My eggs have always been cooked how I asked, and the homefries are awesome! Super crispy and flavorful. My breakfast buddies have ordered some pretty crazy omelets, and those are typically good too, especially if you really like a large filling-to-egg ratio. Coffee is endless and light roast. I like the endless, I do not like light roast, but given its quantity I can get over my nitpicky coffee-snobbery. Fresh-squeezed OJ is really delicious and worth the $3 or whatever it costs. Service here has usually been quite competent and efficient, with some good local sass thrown in for flavor. Patrons really run the gamut from the elderly to the tragically hip youth JP is so known for.
(4)Jef S.
Finally...FINALLY...got to Sorella's! I've been wanting to go for quite a while. I had cornbeef hash and eggs. Eggs were tasty; the hash was sort of disappointing: very ground up, tasty, but not quite, I dunno, hash-y enough. Lacked some flavor. Home fries were okay...I'm glad I read up before I went here because I took the well done and extra pepper advice (and salt) and it worked out fine. My companion got (get this) pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes and graciously allowed me to taste. AMAZINGNESS! Oy, I wish I'd ordered those. Everything was just ok here. The room is small, clean, and reasonably no-frills. Service was fine but nothing special. Indeed, nothing distinguished Sorella's from any other diner style restaurant in Boston that I've been to...EXCEPT FOR THEM MOTHERF***IN' PANCAKES! Overall, Sorella's gets 3.25 stars, but I'm eagerly ready to adjust this upward on my next visit.
(3)Meena M.
I have been to Sorella's many times, but am not sure if I will go again. Their food is cheap, the menu is expansive, and the portions are big. But they don't taste amazing. Actually, is tastes like something I make at home. Some times what I make at home tastes better. I don't really recommend it if you are looking for good brunch. You should go to Centre Street Cafe or Bon Savor for good brunch.
(2)Caroline C.
How can you not love Sorellas? They have pancakes in EVERY FLAVOR. And I don't even like pancakes and I can still appreciate how exciting this is. But not just pancakes - omelets, french toast, sandwiches, crepes. The worst part about Sorellas is making a decision on what to eat. I'm not sure why a few people are griping about service . . .it's brunch, people. What's the big hurry? Heck, half the guests are in sweatpants or pjs. Brunch is about relaxing and catching up with your family and friends, not rushing though your lunch break. I've actually never had a problem with service - and I really appreciate the fact that they will go ahead and seat your friends, even though you may be twenty minutes or so late (Sorry, friends. I know it happens a lot. Sunday morning is hard.). And they never rush you out the door, even though you finish eating an hour ago. (Moreover, it's not like Sorella's pretends to be fine dining. It's an adorable, gruff, brunch place. Staff should not be fawning all over you, especially when you are wearing sweatpants. That would be weird.) A few specific recommendations: Do NOT have the vegetarian hash. It's is not delicious. The almond/kiwi/apricot/seasame seed french toast, however, is beyond tasty. So is the orange juice. The coffee is just okay, but passable and is always refilled.
(5)Ariana G.
Huge menu selection... Three pages of different omelettes... Made for a lot of reading, but two of the pages were all with garlic and in my years of eating and cooking, eggs and garlic are just not a great mix! File my order in the I really know better box! Will go back to try one of the items from the three pages some of the pancakes.
(3)Cassie H.
We went here for an end-of-the year breakfast with a group of us from work. I was anticipating such great breakfast greatness that I think I built it up for a let down. The place is pretty small, but our large group was seated in a private room when our organizer made a phone call for a reservation. Their six page breakfast menu blew me away. Their non-stop coffee is pretty decent, although I was wired for the rest of the day after two and a half cups. The table of us ordered all sorts of goodies from the menu, and the food came out hot although very staggered (again, with a large group, I can't say that it's not expected). I had the French Toast special: two slices of Texas French Toast (I'm from Texas, and I'm not sure what makes their french toast "Texan"), two eggs my way, home fries, and my choice of protein. The bacon I ordered was super thin and greasy. The home fries were cold and unflavorful. My eggs were cooked pretty perfectly. The french toast was hot, but lacked the sweetness I've come to expect with my favorite french toast joints. The price was pretty sweet with most dishes around $6/person. All in all, it was worth experiencing, but I'm not so sure I'll be back.
(3)Kari C.
Sorella's has everything you could want in a Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch place. Cash only for this wonderfully brunchy goodness. Decadent omelets the size of your face make you more full then you ever thought you could be on eggs. They also have a ton of stuff for you veggies out there. They aren't very expensive, so if you want to fill yourself to the brim, this is the place to be. The service is friendly but a bit slow, which is why it's a 4 rating, but you will always recognize friendly faces. The more you go in, the better service seems to be
(4)Clare D.
The first place I ate at in Jamaica Plain when I moved. Amazing omelette full of cheese and fresh veggies, very good size. They also do serve mimosas now, well made ones. The service was very entertaining-stereotypical diner types, quirky but nice. My friend got the French Toast, I don't recall which kind of bread but she could pick from 8 kinds. They only take cash and their hours are kind of erratic. It says open for dinner but I've never seen them open past 2:30pm. Great little place with very good food. I've been back twice since (now November of 2011), in the span of two days. The food continues to be solidly good. Tasty french toast, corned beef hash and savory crepes have filled my belly happily. The mimosas went up in price but are still yummy. The service is still a bit surly and sassy but not in an unpleasant way and they didn't mess up any of our orders or make us wait very long once we sat down. We did have a long wait for a table on Veterans day for brunch since many people had the day off but on Saturday morning we didn't have to wait at all.
(4)christine c.
Dive-y little breakfast place. Fast, cheap, easy...Cash only. SO MUCH ON THE MENU IT IS INSANE. Best fresh-squeezed OJ around. I am a Sorella's believer. You can't do Sunday brunch in JP any better.
(4)Mister Chub S.
The menu is SO LONG! with so many choices it's a bit overwhelming. A lot of the meals have 5+ fillings and while they're tasty, it's just too much. I'm happy that my omelette is filled with onions, peppers, goat cheese, dried cherries, avocado, carrots and diced broccoli but I can hardly distinguish all of the flavors because there are so many. It's a cute set-up- it was like I was in someone's house having brunch because that's pretty much what it was. It was laid-back and cozy in there. A little overpriced for what it was.
(3)Brian D.
Sorella's is a fascinating, throw-back like restaurant. It's like eating in someone's dining room, in fact I'm pretty sure part of it was once a seperate apartment that got added onto a restaurant. The food is always interesting. They come up with huge numbers of interesting combinations out of a relatively small kitchen, and if you like creative pancakes or french toast it's excellent! Both the Gingerbread Pancakes and the Cornbread French Toast are terrific, and the Sorella's Mozzarella (french toast with spinach, marinara and Mozzarella) is a big hit with me and my girlfriend. The waitstaff is a mixture of good and just okay, but they're all flexible and will work with what you want. The atmosphere is very "hipster" with college and yuppie mixed in, but that describes that entire section of Jamaica Plain. There are drawbacks. The one thing they don't do particularly well is meat in/with your breakfast. Corned Beef Hash is interesting one visit, and dull the next. I've ordered side orders of sausage or bacon and they've been bad or badly cooked. Burned or undercooked. It's not like it's a vegetarian place, but if you like some protein with your hot breakfast carbs, you may be disappointed. Still, if nothing else the restaurant gets three stars for creativity and unpretentiousness.
(3)Claire W.
Seriously? Wow. I loved the corn bread French toast and sausage I had. There's fifteen other things on the menu I wanted to try. Agh, this place is amazing. Baby, I'd cross state lines for your sweet corn bread goodness. The corn bread was soft and the perfect amount of sweetness, not breakfast cereal overload. The cranberries and whipped cream are a happy couple on top. I will note the strawberries that were mixed in on top were very weird. They had a fermented, sour tang and I had to scrape them off. Not sure why. I'd guess the berries were not sweet to being with (ya know when strawberries look awesome in the grocery store and then you eat them and they taste unripe and sharp?). The french toast was awesome without them. The sausage was a generous portion and had a lovely spiced greasy softness when I bit into it. A perfect breakfast sausage. Sorrella's, I will be back. Oh yes, I will.
(5)Vincent M.
Really good oatmeal chocolate chip pancakes and a hell of a good bacon and mozzerella omelet. Servers are super friendly. One negative: their menu is huge!! Seriously over 100 items! Crazy crazy stuff. Took me a little while to gaze over the menu. Overall: Great place, fast food, good service.
(4)Cyn C.
I went on a Tuesday morning, so I didn't have to wait in line at all. This diner is old school, with your momma's crockery (from the 80's... you know... the white plates with the brown etched trim from corel?). There are about a gazillion different types of omelets, of which I tried the portugeuse (portugeuse sausage, ricotta and feta cheese, mushrooms, and tomatoes, served with spicy salsa), which includes home fries and toast. The platter is bigger than your head, and looks like a 6 egg omelet. We ate at 11am, and I didn't feel a hunger pang until well past 7pm. So, for less than $10, you can basically eat for the entire day. Loss of one star for the thin and uncrisp bacon (the guy at the next table ordered a side of bacon. Being a bacon lover PLUS being naturally nosy, I made sure to take a peek when the order came along). However, I can't wait to try some of the special french toast and pancake creations here! ETA: loss of one star. After going back a few times, I needed to dock a star. 1) slow service. you'd think a busy place would have faster service to get quicker turnaround on the tables... slow was also bad, since I never got refills on water. 2) weak weak weak coffee. If I go out for brekkie, i need a good cup of strong joe too.
(3)Jocelyn G.
I agree with Jenna C. Every time we've been to Sorella's, I've been sick afterwards. We went back a few times to see if it was just a fluke, and it happened each time again. Don't waste your time and money here.
(1)Caitlin I.
As someone who eats breakfast food more often during dinner time, I have to say, going here for breakfast was a nice little treat. The boy and I decided to venture out for breakfast on a Saturday morning and this place is right around the corner, so bonus points for not having to trek my lazy sleepy ass any further early in the morning. The menu is well, ridiculous to say the least. They have everything and anything your little heart could desire and some things I'm pretty sure I would never want to consume in my life. But there are also mimosas for less than $4 which was enough to make me consider having a strictly liquid breakfast. Portions were way more than I could handle and after eggs, toast, potatoes, AND sausage, I was put in a mild food coma. The food is basic (at least what I had) and I could probably make it at home if I tried hard enough, but let's face it, you go out to eat to avoid having to cook for yourself. I'm a big fan of anytime I don't have to stand in front of a stove and make food. Service was a little slow for actually getting the food, but the boy got his refills of coffee whenever it was low which is apparently very important in early morning coffee world. It also was a little hard to find the waitress when it came to getting a box for leftovers and the check, but I suppose I'd rather wait for that than my food. Slight drawback is that they only take cash which isn't a huge issue as long as you remember that before you get there. As strange it was to be eating breakfast in the morning for me, it was still a good time. The company you have helps make this place what it is.
(3)Seth B.
Closest breakfast place to my house and well worth it. Very extensive omelets list. In fact, I've never seen one bigger. Great portions and a good price. There is often a line Saturday and Sunday and they're only serving breakfast. Closes at 130. Friendly staff. Well worth a visit!
(4)Rich F.
Last weekend the GF and I were here for breakfast and seated on either side of us were people who no longer lived in JP, but for nostalgia decided drag themselves back in order to have breakfast. This says a lot about a place. The woman to my right declared "the pancakes here are the best" and I would have to agree. One of the reviews here stated that the omelets seemed to be a random smorgasbord of veggies. I would agree with this statement. The omelet menu is not impressive. I would rather just build my own. The rest of the menu is a lot better. The French toast and Pancake Breakfasts are the gems. You can modify them with different types of options (chocolate chips, bananas, walnuts, carrot cake, and the list goes on). The coffee is decent and service is typically fast. Plus it is pretty cheap. The location is a bit out of the way for most people who don't live close, but if you are in the area I recommend stopping for brunch or breakfast.
(4)Kim P.
Worth the wait (though we didn't wait that long on a Sunday at 11:45ish). Loved the omlette with asparagus, artichoke hearts and asiago. Have also loved the cornbread french toast and will return to try the Italian omlette. I saw two go past me and they looked amazing--a heart attack on a plate, yes, but still--amazing. Just remember: CASH ONLY!
(4)Laura S.
More like 3.5 stars... The service sucked! The waitress took our glasses when we were done and never returned with refills and this was before we even received our meals. Since our waitress didn't bring the food to the table we had to eat our meals without beverages until our waitress finally got off the phone and off her butt! However I the food makes up for the horrid service. They have fresh squeezed orange juice that is so good I would just go there for that, but I don't have to since everything is good. I got the banana nut bread French toast. It was amazing, I can not even explain the joy I had with each bite. It was so filling! The person I was with had the chocolate chip banana pancakes with caramel and whipped cream topping (I think that's what it was called) he too loved his meal. We can not wait to go back, I want to try everything on the menu now!
(4)Tom H.
This place is odd: you'll never find a broader or tastier brunch menu, but the staff can be surly, and whereas some of the items on the menu are insanely good (e.g., all the french toasts and pancakes), some things are land mines (e.g., many of the omelets) and should ne avoided. But the good things really are THAT GOOD to earn 4 stars.
(4)David K.
The menu was extensive which made it hard to choose. The service was fun, and with personality. The food was solid and tasty. We are intrigued and want to go back to try something else.
(3)D E.
Food was great! Had french toast with eggs, bacon and potatoes. Everything was reasonably priced-about $6 for the meal. You received a nice portion too! Would definetly go back!
(4)Nadiva N.
I heard such great reviews about sorella's. But unfortunately I was highly disappointed with my experience. It appears dirty and untidy. The waitress was sweet though. The menu is indeed overwhelming with a never-ending list of French toasts etc. My pancake order was enormous, too much for one person, less than mediocre even with all the toppings. And then finally, to add insult to injury as I took a bite of my strawberry pancakes, I bit into a large piece of onion. That was enough to put me off completely. Definitely will not go back.
(1)Ashley K.
I went here because my roommates said, hands-down, this place had the best omelettes ever. I moved here recently, so maybe you guys have a different definition of what an omelette should be, but I've always considered it to be a nice, fluffy, folded over bunch of eggs with some filling inside. An omelette at this restaurant is more like a ring of eggs with tons of fillings on the inside. I got the mexican omelette, and I am the biggest guac lover on this planet, but half the omelette was guacamole. Kind of like eating hot guacamole, by itself. I've never before been able to say something had way too much guacamole in it. Same issue with the salsa - way too much. For a dish that's supposed to be mostly eggs, I'm not sure what's going on there. But it wasn't terribly enjoyable. Also, the toast was just weak. Itty bitty, kind of squished slices that reminded me a lot of Wonderbread. I can forgive weak food - maybe I should have just stuck with eggs over easy or something - but the service sucked too. I went with a friend, and he got his pancakes first, no syrup, just butter. And then we waited around for a few minutes, until my omelette showed up. Only then did it occur to the waiter that my friend might need syrup. Also, oddly, one glass of orange juice showed up five minutes before the other, and neither of us were offered (or given) water. At the end, as they were closing, we had to ask for our check... and then it still took a good 5-10 minutes before we got it. You'd think they'd want to go home, right? And it's not like they were overwhelmingly busy. I think there were maybe three tables left. I can do bad service with good food... and I can even forgive bad food if there's really good service. But they screwed up both. Not worth coming back.
(1)Charmie S.
Who likes to be disappointed? Not me. I ordered the French toast with eggs, bacon and home fries. French toast had way too much egg on it, so I went nuts with syrup to give it flavor. Eggs, I ordered over hard and they were. No salt though. Bacon, well, ya can't mess up bacon! Overall, not impressed. Perhaps there's more to be desired on their supersized And, no offense, but the spot gets no love for the dingy space. I think cleanliness, or at least the appearance of, matters a bit. But I could be wrong...Best things about this place are the menu pricing (french toast, eggs, bacon and home fries = $5.95) and fast service. For this kind of fare though, I'd give Victoria's Diner in Dottie a try!
(2)Kate S.
I was pretty disappointed with this place. I had such high hopes. The food was okay, but it wasn't what I wanted. I really had my heart set on pumpkin pancakes, and was told they were out (it was about 12:30pm). I also wanted some hot apple cider, which was posted as being available, but was told I couldn't get any because "she hasn't made it yet." Huh? The staff was so gruff and brisk, I was pushed to order something else right away (which is really hard cause the menu is HUGE) and got the pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes, which they did have, which tasted pretty good, but had way too many nuts. My sausage was way undercooked. I hope I don't get trichinosis. I finished my OJ before our order was even taken, so I then asked for a glass of water. The waitress looked really pissed to have to bring it to me, and the glass was never refilled. Like I said, the food's mostly okay, but I don't think it's worth waiting so long in the cold, dealing with grouchy staff, and possibly acquiring a parasite.
(2)S K.
Friendly service and comfortably casual (dingy?) enough to make me feel un-anxious bringing my young kids here. But, 2 stars off for putting peanut butter chips (i.e. totally synthetic "peanut" cookie chips) in the kids' peanut-butter banana pancakes. I ordered them so he'd get more nutrition than regular pancakes. Tired of American assumption that kids should eat candy for breakfast. That said, my spinach crepe was tasty. There was no line or crowd because it was so cold out, but I would not wait in line for this place.
(3)Meggie M.
I am a huge Sunday Brunch fan. When I'm in Boston, I can't fathom to go anywhere but Sorrella's. Ranging from delightfully sweet to scorchingly hot; they have delicious offerings for all taste buds. Along with the food, the atmosphere is adorably quirky. I've visited Sorellas several times at different hours of the day, and never had to wait for a long period of time. For me, that adds 10 bonus points.
(4)Don N.
Good prices, good food, friendly! Would come again.
(4)Tim W.
Notoriously slow. Served unripe tough avocado. Not worth the wait. It was just eggs! They also do not accept credit cards and close at 1 pm. The food is just not good enough to be worth all the hassle.
(2)Katie L.
SUCH a disappointment. Their food is bland at best and the eggs are the most disgusting eggs I've ever had, zero taste. Also they charged $1 for hot water with lemon... Really? Trust me, take your $$ elsewhere.
(1)Steph D.
Do not, under any circumstances go here on a Saturday morning! Because frankly, I don't want to have to wait any longer. Reasons I love Sorellas: Non-hipster waiters. Diet Breaker Pancakes. Eggs, made over easy, for real. Diner coffee. Awesome refill abilities. Sexy polenta. Wobbly tables, (because what's a diner without wobbly tables?) Goat cheese overloads. Sweatpants dress code. Tattoos. No pressure "fresh squeezed" juice. Not even $20 for 2 people. No cooking.
(5)Justin I.
This is one of our favorite breakfast places. Very cheap and an absolutely massive menu. They always have a crazy amount of specials going on too. The food is so good and the place is fun to walk or take a bus to because it's right down on Centre Street in JP. Great location and it never takes too long to be seated. The main dining room is pretty small but they have a couple of other spots where they can seat people when it starts getting busy. My favorites are the omelets, so many to choose from. I've had several different ones over the past couple of years and they never disappoint. Sorella's is as good as it gets for breakfast/casual brunch. You've got to check it out even if you're on the other side of town. It's worth it.
(5)Brendan H.
Prices: reasonable Omelets: amazing Pancakes: also amazing. All other breakfast items: fantastic. Service: friendly and fast Coffee: Horrible. I give this place five stars anyway. It's that awesome.
(5)Megan S.
I have a torrid relationship with Sorella. I sneak out early from my house on the weekend, get a table early and dig into the biggest, fullest, mixed-up omelets I've ever had in my whole life. Your imagination isn't ready for the things they combine in their omelets. And most of them include garlic and basil. Also be sure to enjoy the prize artwork on the walls. ; )
(5)Rachel J.
I hate to have to give you only 3 stars. I really like your crepes with the weird ingredients like "mango marsh sauce", whatever that means! There aren't that many places that will make crepes with blueberries and macadamia nuts together. I also like the wide variety of omelet combinations. Also the pancakes are amazing- pumpkin pancakes with cream cheese and strawberries are very good. And the prices hover around $8, cheap in overpriced Boston. So it seems like I really really like this place, and I used to, until I went there on a Sunday morning and waited an hour for our food, and then we finally just gave up and left. Give us a realistic estimate of the wait, don't just seat us and have us sit there for forty-five minutes!!!!! Ugh.
(3)Scott F.
Went back. I tried their Gingerbread Pancakes. They were great. The sour cream on the side was odd. As usual, I just couldn't finish everything. I either need a bigger stomach or smaller eyes.
(3)Luyi H.
OMG. This place is amazing. I ordered the...omelet named after a person with artichoke hearts, half an avocado (nomnomnom), more asparagus than I can handle, with mushrooms plus moz? cheese, topped with alfalfa sprouts. Then, it came with cubed potato hash and toast!!! All for under $8!!!! Wow. Great deal. The size of my omelet was HUGE, it was bursting with ingredients. They don't skimp, even if you choose the omelet with all the expensive greens. I'm a girl who loooves food, but I couldn't finish it all. I'm in love with this place, but it's soo far from where I live. :( Helpful tips. Bring cash, they don't accept plastic. And be careful of the molding on the walls. It juts out at an awkward hit-your-head height.
(5)Dave G.
I love love love this place. The pancakes are super, the service is great and the people who work there are nice and weird. It's a quirky family run restaurant with long weekend lines to get in, so don't be surprised if you have to wait on a Saturday: There is a reason for it. I find everything about it charming and exactly what I'd expect from a family run diner that's been around for 25 years. Ignore all the people here who are complaining about waiting, the service, atmosphere. They want a sanitized and pompous South End restaurant, not a neighborhood shop. I think the best part is the seven-hundred-ingredient-omelettes tacked to the walls. It's as if someone spun the wheel of food and made a list of the craziest combination. Go, you'll see.
(5)Dana B.
My friends took me here because they had been raving about it for months and I'd been dying to go. I don't know if it was too hyped for me, but I really didn't enjoy myself there. You wait a long time to get seated. You wait a long time to order your food. You wait about an hour to get it. My friend ordered something and was told they didnt have it. So she ordered something else. They burned it and then asked her if she wanted the thing she origionally wanted because now they have it...shady... Waiting for a while is less fun here because the staff just yells at each other all the time. And not in a haha i'm joking kind of way, but in a make customers uncomfortable kind of way. The food I had was pretty good. I did get a lot of food, but that is commonplace with most breakfast places now. I wish I had been a little more adventurous and tried one of their deliciously sounding french toast or pancake combinations instead of getting an omelette. The one thing it does have going for it is the huge menu of items.
(3)Katelyn M.
We waited 45 minutes in near-freezing weather for a table this morning. I wish that tables of 15 didn't exist for brunch on a Sunday morning... Anyway, the menu was extensive. I have never seen so many omelettes on one menu -- goat cheese, macademia nuts, garlic, basil, broccoli, tomatoes. You could get a gourmet plate (e.g., pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes) or something more close to home (think denver omelette or texas french toast). I made a mistake by getting a super-fancy omelette. Sorell'as is a much better place (in my opinion) to get specialty french toast (home-made banana walnut bread french toast) or pancakes than a super huge (the size of my head) omelette that lacks salt, butter, or both. I got my fill of veggies, but left wishing I had splurged on a carb-heavy, syrup-laden brunch. I will go back -- pineapple zuchinni walnut bread french toast just is too enticing not to (my DH disagrees...). But no more omelletes for me.
(3)Heather L.
Dear lord this place is terrible! I've always seen lots of people outside of sorellas so one Saturday morning I decided to try it out. The food was really bad. It was maybe comparable to ihop. The set up was pretty bad too. I was kinda confused an uncomfortable the whole time...but My waitress was great and attentive though. Still I probably wouldn't go back.
(3)Simona S.
Talk about a hangover. Exhausted and still very nauseous from late night debauchery I came to Sorella's today seeking the obvious: grease. Eggs. Possibly bacon. I could not decide between eggs or my usual: corned beef hash. I talked to the waitress and told her about my "situation" aka I had legitimately had nothing in my system anymore thanks to a solid night and morning praying to the porcelain god. She seemed to understand. Told me to go with eggs. I told her I couldn't choose an omelet. She asked me if there was anything I didn't like. I said blue cheese. I still have no idea what omelet I got. And maybe it's for the best. I was wishing it had meat in it until she brought a small little plate of corned beef hash for me. Which is why this place got four stars because service always counts. Always. And me and my cousins can be a rough bunch to deal with. But the menu actually stressed me out. It might make more sense to just do a "create-your-own" thing instead of stressing me out with dozens of options. Especially when I'm nauseous. Pancakes were awesome, we shared some blueberry almond, etc. concoction that I finished despite being rather full. The food here is definitely good, I just need to point out (like others have said before) that the omelets aren't exactly omelets. It's all of the amazing sounding ingredients cooked together with scrambled eggs on top. As long as you know what you're getting yourself into, you'll enjoy Sorella's.
(4)Andy O.
I have to be honest. The only positive things about Sorella's is the selection and the value. I ordered the Eggs Special and my potatoes were tasteless and too soft, unlike normal home fries which are typically a bit crispy. I've had better. The eggs were a bit runnier than I asked for but the sausage was very good. They also do not take credit cards which can be a hassle and cause a bit of an issue with payment for my friend so I had to cover.
(3)Jessica B.
Sorella's is a decent breakfast joint. There is usually only a five, maybe ten, minute wait. Although I've yet to choose a meal that I've liked. Usually my boyfriend and I switch plates because I don't like mine. This is because Sorella's often tries to mix sweet and savory flavors. This morning I had an omlette with artichoke hearts, asparagus, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, alfalfa sprouts, cheese, cranberries, and macademia nuts. I would have prefered it without the cranberries and macademia nuts. However, my boyfriend's pumpkin cranberry walnut pancakes were divine!!
(3)Nicole S.
This place is going to become a sad addiction. I went here with a friend based upon a suggestion from a coworker. She did not steer as wrong!!!! We went through yelp reviews before going there and had some ideas for what we would get but once we got there and saw the huge menu we got overwhelmed- but in a good way. We decided out first venture there would be eggs. The food here was fantastic!!! The place is a mish mosh of decorations, settings, tables, etc but I figure that just gives it character. Our second visit was even better than the first. I got the banana peanut butter french toast. Now when I read that I figure I would get some think bread french toast with sliced bananas on top with a scoop of peanut butter on top.... well i was wrong. I got banana bread with peanut butter chips mixed in. Holy hell that was fantastic. Banana and peanut butter in every bite, plus the texture was amazing! Genius!!!! *Cash only*
(5)Beverly G.
Meh. I don't get all the love. It's all right; by no means great. On weekends, you can't get a table to save your life and the line stretches out the door, but I've never found it to be worth the wait. The omelettes definitely suffer from a "too many ingredients spoil the dish" problem. I like their andouille sausage, though.
(2)Linda S.
Advice for the breakfast fan who wants to sample Sorella's: 1. Get there early. The lines on the weekends are not a joke after 10:00 a.m. It's a small place and the food is great. Deal. 2. Get there early. The service when it's not that busy is awesome; if you're there when there are fifty thousand other people there, you might have to wait a little bit. Deal. 3. Order the pancakes. For the love of god, do yourself a favor, and order. The pancakes. Even if you want protein. Even if you want eggs. Bring a friend and split an order of those damn pancakes. It's criminal how good they are. Further, Sorella's has some of the best French toast I've ever tried. (Sidenote: Do not mistake their banana bread or hearty foodie bread French toast with real French toast. There's a lot going on there - too much for me. Make sure you're ordering some normal French toast with accoutrements, not a big ole hunk of banana bread fried in butter. Unless you're into that, which you might be. For me, it was a little much.) Their omelettes are a little busy for my taste, as they all include fresh garlic and basil - which I feel kind of overrides the flavor of what's going on with all the other delicious and varied ingredients you can get. (You can get many.) Sorella's has one of the most expansive menus I've seen at such a tiny little neighborhood breakfast place - hell, it's one of the most expansive menus I've seen at any breakfast place anywhere. They have tons of exotic variations on their omelettes, pancakes, and French toast, and everything is really incredibly reasonably priced (truly - one of the last few places in the Northeast where you can actually get a great, filling breakfast for under ten bucks, tip included if you're careful). I've always found the service efficient and friendly, and accurate. There was this one time when my waitress came off a little surly, but I smiled at her and was polite and then she smiled at me and was really nice. And they always get my order right, and they always make sure I have coffee or juice or whatever I want. So yeah. Hearts for Sorella's.
(4)Joshua B.
GREAT CHEAP EATS MADE WITH LOVE! At 12:15 yesterday we called to find out their hours and the lady who answered was very nice and told me they take their last order at 1:30. We got there at 12:30 and there were only a few people eating. I was ready for a ham and cheese omlet, which I admit seemed too boring with all they had to offer. My boyfriend had trouble picking, he settled with the JP Omlet which was great. Fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee.... it was great. The cute lady and the big guy who seem to run the place were accommodating and made us feel like we were regulars. First out drinks came up and about seven or eight minutes later our food showed up looking hot and yummy. In these few minutes the place filled up--including a party of six! Omlets were great, toast was crisp and buttery... home fries could use some lovin. We plan on going back, we were stuffed for hours. Dinor food without the greasy stomach ache. Next time I'm getting french toast!!! OPEN DAILY 7AM-1:30PM
(5)Fernando R.
I actually worked at Sorellas from 2004-2008 on sundays through out High school. The wait is long I am not going to lie. I had troubles getting people out. You have to understand their is 3 rooms at Sorellas the first one is up to 4 people sometimes 5. Same thing with the second one. The last one is for big tables. And also their is only one grill for the entire restaurant. So it does take time to make food. The food is good and fresh. I know they have a guy that makes produce deliveries on a Sunday! My favorite food is the Texas and Cha-Cha Omelette.
(4)Tyler C.
this place has the reputation....but the 2 times i've gone, the food has been....underwhelming. Maybe I haven't ordered the right thing. oatmeal pancakes w/ various fruit was pretty good flavorwise but not fluffy, and actually kind of heavy. Crepes were not that exciting. This place does have an impressive menu selection...but I think for JP brunch, Center Street Cafe still stands head and shoulders above all else for overall tastiness.
(2)Julie S.
I love Sorella's! Cheap, huge variety, attentive service. I always go here when family visits from out of town. I've tried many categories from the menu, and I've never been disappointed. I tend to stay on the pancakes/waffles side, but I think my absolute favorite is the homemade polenta with guacamole, tofu and salsa. There are many vegetarian/vegan modifications available. The coffee is OK but not extraordinary. Fresh-squeezed orange juice is pricey but a nice treat. If you go with children, there is a playground about 2 blocks away (walking up Centre, away from Perkins) for them to burn off energy (and maybe you can burn off some of that breakfast :)
(5)Jon L.
What a great amazing breakfast. I went in like a half hour before they opened and they where cool with it. I regulary don't get omlettes because they are something I can make at home, but after looking at all the amazing omlettes I went for one. It had basil, garlic, shallots, spinach, sundried tomatoes, salmon, boursin, fresh spinach etc. It was so fresh tasting. I would say the best omlette I have ever had. Extremely creative menu, well done!!
(5)Adam E.
Here's the thing about Sorella's. You have to order the right thing, cuz they have a few dishes that are perfect and a bunch that totally blow. You also have to be patient and wait for a table, and I think everyone here has done that at one time or another and survived. Personally, I think waiting is half the fun of brunch. You can chit chat with your friends and anticipate the best meal ever. You probably won't get that at Sorella's, but if you play your cards right, you'll leave very full and satisfied. The potatoes suck, they're boring. The scrambled eggs are runny and that is so not my thing. I always get the pumpkin pancakes with cranberries and nuts, with cream cheese and strawberries on top. It's expensive, but I've tried a lot of other dishes and that's the only one that works for me. The coffee is like AA coffee, which I can appreciate even though I prefer a dark roast. Basically, it's a solid 3-star joint. If you never make the mistake of trying one of their many substandard dishes you might interpret it for 4 or 5 stars.
(3)Vanessa C.
HOLY HORRIBLE BREAKFAST can I even put into words how disappointed I am in MYSELF for returning to this place for a second or third time. its around the corner & I didnt know any other places to go in JP for breakfast. but this was really just too much - LAZINESS DOES NOT PAY OFF, PEOPLE! where to begin.... the potatoes? undercooked and tasteless. the omelette? undercooked and tasteless. the side of veggies? I could count the number of leafy greens on ONE HAND for petes sake!!! OVERPRICED! the "varieties" of French toast? I think I got the pumpkin or banana who knows it all tastes identical but it is NOT French toast. DO NOT BE DECEIVED!!! it is like a slice of banana bread tossed onto a grill. SO DISGUSTING! even my overuse of caps cannot convey my disappointment in this place. moral of the story: good breakfast is worth the commute! I dont care if I have to drive back to somerville every sunday for the rest of my life, it sure beats the hell out of the crappy breakfasts I've had here. NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)Haley C.
There are a lot of items on the menu. Service is fast and the staff is extremely friendly. There are only a few vegan options, but i had a tasty vegan meal for pretty cheap.
(4)Rachel S.
Sorella's is really charming. The food is delicious- I took my brother there for his birthday on a tuesday morning and there was no wait whatsoever. From experience, I can say their Oatmeal Chocolate Chip pancakes, Cornbread French Toast with whipped cream and strawberries, and turkey sausage are awesome. I can't really believe how many people complain about this place. I've had one of the omelets and it was pretty great, too. If you're unsure of what to get and are afraid of all of the angry reviews, definitely go for one of their sweeter menu items- you won't be disappointed. update 6/21- I've now had many of the omelets & crepes and they've all been delicious. The homemade chicken salad has nuts & apples and was mighty tasty. Excellent turkey sausage and hash, too!
(5)Sean J.
Can you please fix the grammatical and spelling errors on your signage that's all over the place. and yes, i don't want sprouts, bacon, dates, and goat cheese on my western tropical omelet... Someone needs to do some editing.
(4)Greg M.
Decent food, decent price, decent service. All I have to add is to stay away from the omlettes with too many ingredients. There isn't nearly enough egg to contain all of it. I know that sounds like a compliment, but it's not. I ordered an omlette with asparagus, garlic, avocado, and cheese (there may have been something else as well). Everything was just in giant chunks. There was just a half of avocado sitting in there, next to a bunch of whole spears of asparagus and a glob of melted cheese. Everything should have been chopped and dispersed evenly. And it wasn't even near propotionate to the amount of egg. This was more like a farmer's market.
(3)Hans M.
Ok, I cannot heap enough praise on how great this diner is. First of all, the menu is humongous. I have never seen so many different varieties of omelets and pancakes. The decor is kind of downhome neighborhood, with handwritten menu items on placards all over the place. I was a little worried they didn't have menus and I'd have to wander around the place just to read all the selections. I had a Mexican omelet and it was quite tasty full of peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, jalapenos, guacamole and a generous portion of salsa on top. I love to eat a huge breakfast and often will get eggs, bacon toast, home-fries and a pancake on the side. Needless to say the omelet here was so big I could hardly even finish it and was glad I didn't order that pancake even though my neighbor's did look great. What can be better than a combination of eggs and tex-mex. I found the wait staff/owners to be really friendly and curious about the ebook reader that at first was glued to my face - I was eating by myself, I usually don't think to talk with others while I'm eating. However, this was and exception as the clientele was a very diverse mixture of some of the friendliest people I've ever met in the Boston area. I ended up staying around talking almost two hours with a mother and her 10 year old daughter sitting next to me - who had a menu item named after her - the aforementioned pancakes. How cool is that?!? Something about this restaurant and JP as a whole just has a really cool vibe. I look forward to gorging myself on another omelet here soon.
(5)Joe S.
My wife and I are currently relocating to JP and a friend of mine who lives in the area stopped by to check out the new place. He had suggested that we go to Sorella's for some lunch. Its right around the corner. First impression, this is no-frills dining. It's a small, family owned restaurant that really packs them in. We went after 12, so we didn't have to wait for a table. The menu is huge. Its filled with all different types of omlettes. I had the "volcano" which had spinach, mushrooms, avocado, and bleu cheese. I was under the impression the bleu cheese would be of the crumbled variety, but come to find out, they just poured some bleu cheese dressing in the omlette. Maybe it was the texture, but it really didn't do it for me. Given the size of the menu, I'm sure I'll eventually find some dishes that I'll enjoy. So all is not lost. The iced coffee was delicious as well.
(3)Diana L.
Some bastard told me this place was woman-owned and like the walking San Francisco hippie stereotype that I am, I mindlessly followed my social consciousness into Sorella's. Well, you can take away my karma points, because I'm just gonna come out with it: EVERYTHING WE ATE HERE WAS BAD. I don't know how they managed to make everything taste bad, but they did it. Congrats.
(1)Theresa A.
The food here is good, love the waffles, huge menu and fresh squeezed OJ. The service needs some work
(3)Megan L.
I recently went to Sorella's when I didn't feel like standing in the rain at Centre Street Cafe. Sorella's suprisingly had no wait, but oddly enough, it took FOREVER to get our food. I ordered a breakfast burrito that consisted of scrambled eggs, avocado, and cilantro. My friend ordered scrambled eggs and toast. I think we waited 30 minutes to be served. It was crazy. I could have hopped back there and whipped up scrambled eggs in 3 minutes. The food tasted okay, but the service left much to be desired. I might go back, but only if there is no wait. No way would I wait twice for their breakfast. One positive thing I can muster...Sorella's is really cheap. We ate for like $9 plus tip.
(2)R. B.
Pancakes can be good.... the eggs, potatoes etc are on par with your basic all-night diner. BUT, the coffee is the absolute worst I've ever been served in a cafe. Tasted like it was recycled grounds (you know, when you run out of grounds and try to put more water through in hopes of getting real coffee to come out again, and it never works). Bleh. I did have a good egg sandwich here once though. I'd recommend that.
(2)Bernadette S.
Five stars for the sheer variety of omelettes and pancakes. We all have our fave. Mine is the pumpkin cranberry walnut with strawberries and cream cheese on top which is out of this world delicious. I feel gross afterwards from the sheer sweetness, so now I order a basic western omelette with a side of ONE pumpkin cranberry walnut pancake. Sure, it's a lot of food, but we share it. Their home fries have gotten better over the years, but they should be ordered well done and then generously sprinkled with pepper. Service is gruff and efficient, which is all I need in the morning anyway.
(5)Eve G.
Absolutely terrible. We get in there, and then the head cook is yelling at his staff because he has nothing better to do, and of course, one of the staff quits and walks out. Now, we've ordered our meal and we sit there for 45 minutes before I ask the waitress, who seems to be completely OUT OF IT when our meal is coming. Another 15 minutes later it comes. I get the oatmeal and chocolate chip pancakes which taste like bacon and have probably one oat in the whole batch. I ask this other man who seems to be working for Sorella's if I could get a refill on my coffee, since it had been 30 minutes before anyone has stopped to ask if I want anymore. He snaps at me saying, "someone just walked out." Then, he proceeds to fill it with a jarring look on his face. I've gone to Sorella's numerous times before this, and each time, I tell myself I'm never going back. This time, I may actually consider never going back. It honestly looks like the actual owner gave up on the place ten years ago. If the place gained a little more spirit in staff, food and service, it might do it some good.
(1)Ellen C.
Go! Go Go Go! The pancakes were delicious. I don't even care that they were out of my first two choices (be warned), because the ones I ended up getting were so good. I'd never heard of this place before a friend invited me to go. I also seem to remember that it was reasonably priced, easy to get to, and had an unfortunately long wait that was COMPLETELY worth it. It was a little hard to communicate with the waitstaff. Seriously though, the food completely makes up for absolutely anything else. Go tomorrow morning if you can.
(5)Jenna C.
I really want to like Sorella's. I want to like it so much that I give it 5 stars and say I'll go there every weekend because it's conveniently located across the street from my apartment. But I can't because I actually HATE Sorella's :( The few times I've been there I've never been able to even attempt to finish my meal and left feeling sick. But I kept going back hoping this would be a fluke. After 3 visits I realize this is no fluke... it's just awful. I don't care how big the menu is. Have they even heard of quality over quantity? What's the point of making tons of shitty food? It's beyond me. Unfortunately the food isn't even the worst part. The customer service is atrocious. Seriously, the waitresses that I've had could not have a worse attitude problem and I am ALWAYS nice. Especially when I'm not even fully awake yet. All my visits have been well after the morning rush so I don't understand why I have to wait 10 minutes for some juice when I'm watching them stand there and do nothing. Grrrrr!
(1)Yianni G.
Sorella has some of the best pancakes in the country according to this article which they flaunt on their front window flyertalk.com/forum/show… I waited fro 30 minutes during the Sunday snow storm to check out what the fuzz was all about and all I have to say is...Holy Pancakes! I got this thing called the Ben's Thunder- 4 banana pancakes (home made batter), with raspberries, strawberries, tons of whip cream and coconut flakes. It was life changing. Plus I made a new friend while waiting for a table. Her name is Meg and we ate together. My next pancake experience will probably be the ginger strawberry thing every keeps talking about. They should really expand.
(5)K T.
This place is now my favorite brunch spot in Boston. Love it. Absolutely crazy menu, ridiculously good food, tons of vegetarian options, pretty good coffee, a good value for what you get. The service wasn't mindblowing, but the people I talked to were nice and they're definitely not stingy with the coffee refills. It takes a while to get your food, but do you really have anything better to do on a Sunday morning?
(5)Mary L.
I've been visiting Sorellas for years now, and can't speak more highly of the food. The carrot walnut pancakes are my favorite: real shreds of carrot in the pancake! The staff have a lot of character, the food is good, and the atmosphere is very "Boston." Highly recommended. Be prepared though: they are cash only.
(5)H.E. A.
Perfect place for family brunch and local's favorite. Our kids and their friends love the menu and atmosphere. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is the looking wait and slow and curt service because of that (especially after Sunday service, it gets packed). During the week, experience might be different. Highly recommended if you're looming for comfort food.
(4)Boston G.
I've been to Sorella's twice. The first time, the experience was quite good - the food is a very interesting mix of sweet and savory (for instance, pumpkin pancakes, breakfast burritos, sweet and salty crepes) - a very full and fascinating menu. The problem with this restaurant is the interminable wait you have to go through to actually be served. You will wait 25 minutes just to get in, and then it's anybody's guess when you'll actually get your food (usuallly another 25-30 minutes.) I don't know about you, but when I'm hungry for breakfast, I'm HUNGRY. I was just there this past Sunday with a friend, and after waiting about 45 minutes, still holding our menus, with coffee but no water (which we'd asked for) we saw the group of folks who'd come in after us having their orders taken before us... ? I know, it can be a waitress's nightmare to have to keep track of EVERYONE in the restaurant, but clearly we'd been there first. And no matter how good the food, waiting over 45 minutes JUST TO ORDER is not worth it. Add the facts that there is no air conditioning, they only accept cash, they are always understaffed and the tables are cramped = not worth the time. It's sad to say, because the food is good, but you can find better places.
(1)Crystal C.
The last year I lived in Boston, my boyfriend at the time lived a few blocks from Sorella's, and it quickly became THE destination for weekend brunch. We would stand out in the cold, rain, snow, whatever as long as we had to in order to get a table. And every time it was worth the wait. Both the upstairs and downstairs dining areas are a bit cramped, so you have to be able to tollerate the close quarters. Service was always great. But the food. It's all about the food. They had so many options that it was almost overwhelming and I know I never got to try everything they offered. Whether you are a fan of egg based breakfast dishes or just want some pancakes or french toast, you will find something inventive and delicious.
(5)Janine A.
I finally got to Sorella's. The menu is a little over whelming, every omelet and pancake listed on the menu seems to have 5 or more ingredients. I'd come back but order again without so many ingredients. It takes away from the food there are just too many ingredients. Portions are huge and the fresh squeezed OJ is great. My reason for 3 star is too many ingredients and options make options seem not well thought out. Our food was ok, not executed that well. Our lobster burrito had different ingredients in the beginning, middle , and end of the burrito.
(3)Meghan M.
There was no wait to sit, but it took a while to get serviced and for our food to be served. BUT the breakfast burrito was probably the best I've ever had. No credit cards, kind of annoying, but an ATM nearby.
(4)Brian D.
I was really pissed off when my woman dragged me to Sorellas on aSaturday morning. I knew from driving by this place a million times that it was a hotbed of crunch eyed, late morning rising, slow eating, mofo's. I'm kind of a 'in and out' breakfast guy, give me eggs or a muffin or a god damn burger - i don't care just do it quick, with coffee and without enough grease to send me immediately into gastric convulsions. So...after waiting for 10 minutes outside (the joint looks small from the outside but has a sneaky hidden side seating area) - we were seated by the scary hostess, she didn't scare me too much I was actually happy that she wasn't a bubbly morning scenester. Coffee was brought STAT and i dived into the really overwhelming menu. that is probably going to be my only complaint - too much to chose from. seriously, what the hell - 3 different polenta options, at least 10 different pancake options, enough omelette options to make the french weep and seriously, not overpriced at all. i really wanted just eggs but after breaking down into tears after seeing polenta coming out with jalapenos i had to succumb and get all yuppie-hippie for breakfast. The food was really fresh, well prepared and served in a heaping mound that filled me for hours. So, in JP - need food, don't mind sleepy annoying breakfast banter - GO to Soreallas.
(4)Vivian H.
I went there this morning, and it was wonderful. Its a cute, cozy place and the prices are great. If you arrive before 9AM, I think they have early bird specials. I got the French toast deal, lots of food and very fast. I will definitely go back to try their different pancakes, which I hear is their specialty.
(4)Mark S.
Why can't you guys just chop the veggies in your "fancy omellettes?" Stick with the normal stuff and you'll be ok.
(2)Angelina C.
I love your omelets, french toast, home fries, coffee, pancakes, etc. like I love my mom. I love your prices. I love how you're five minutes from my house.
(4)D M.
I really like this place for a dive-y poor customer service experience, but the last time I went was with Jesse and Robert, and while Robert enjoyed his breakfast, Jesse was kind of appaulled. And once I thought about it, I can see why.......the customer service is always pretty crap-tastic, and while the food is good and filled with veggies, it's always a little dirty and has a kinda crusty feel to it. I get that. But the food is cheap and it's very much a little local place that people will always flock to, whether it's good service or not. It's hard to believe I am saying this, but it's a little to hippy casual for me. I like my diners cleaner and my waitresses to have french twists and big hair if they are more nasty. Is that weird? Oh, heads up......no credit cards are accepted here.
(3)AB H.
Long wait, surly service, OK food. This was my second time to Sorella's. I think my basic complaint is that the chunks of veggies in the omelettes are too big and under cooked. The ginger french bread and oatmeal, walnut, carrot pancakes were a little bland. Even the gorgonzola sauce on top of my omelette was bland. The freshly squeezed oj was good. Omelettes come with home fries and toast - meh, not that good.
(2)Linda H.
Went for brunch today. Decent prices, but things do add up. Food was decent. As reported by others, they give you decent-sized portions. Lots of different options. Omeletes are fairly large. Lots of fillings in them, but a bit bland. But, better that I add my own pepper and ketchup than to have it too salty I guess. Also, if you're debating about the corned beef hash, my dining partner reports that it's from the can. Nothing spectacular about it I guess. So, a good option for breakfast if you're local and looking for a fairly inexpensive place with lots of choices.
(3)Russ A.
I had visions of a new favorite breakfast joint when I walked into Sorella's for the first time and started flipping through the expansive menu. With specials like cornbread french toast, avocado in almost every dish and loads of veggie options how could you go wrong? Lets start with the good. Their coffee is decent and the server came by several times to refill my mug. Also, the breakfast sandwich I ordered was pretty solid (egg/cheese w/ avocado, sprouts and lox on everything bagel). What made me give this two stars is the fresh fruit bowl I ordered. It was pretty much the opposite of "fresh". The strawberries were mushy and had rotten spots all over them. The cantaloupe, kiwi and honeydew were previously frozen and mushy to the point where it almost fell apart on my fork. I guess my biggest gripe is that they advertise this as "fresh" when it's obviously not. I might go back again, but would stay far away from anything with fruit, which is a shame because their pancakes with fruit sounded pretty awesome.
(2)lizzie b.
I really enjoyed looking through the menu. That alone could have taken like 25 minutes. I think it's a little spastic --- you have your omelettes, your exotic omelettes, your omelette specials, your super crazy omelettes. How many items can you fit into one omelette? I got #4 -- which had avocado, spinach, portabella, gouda... I think there was mint in there, tomatoes.... The problem is that it was basically a mix of veggies with omelette on top. I'm more of a baked-in type of omelette girl. Homefries were okay. So, decent overall. But I'd check out some other JP gems before I went back.
(3)Lila S.
Holy Hell....., why haven't I been here sooner?! My hubbs took me here for the first time yesterday and I could barely take the grin off my face. SOOO many choices of fruit and nuts to put in your waffles,pancakes or french toast. Folks, trust me on this one even you are a die hard savory breakfast eater, you will melt when your toungue hits the taste of banana peanut butter french toast with strawberries and whipped cream!! Its seriously a mouthgasm. Not to mention that all the French Toast is on Texas toast STANDARD!! 3 Slices were way too much but I tried my best. They don't mess around with ingredients here, some combinations that struck me were: Blueberry Walnut Maple pancakes, oatmeal peach waffles,Gingerbread French Toast and CORN BREAD FRENCH TOAST mmmmm.. My hubbs needs Eggs benedict to be happy in life but didn' t see it on the menu. You can still ask for it, but it will come as poached eggs on your choice of bread and hollindaise ( or whatever) sauce. He got it with corned beef hash and said it was perfect altogether. Now, Its worth mentioning.... burritros.... oh....my...god ... people They make a mean omlette at this place( with crazier ingredients than I could even mention) but the burritos can be breakfast or lunch style and ARE SOOO GOOD. Trust me I likes me a goood burrito. The only reason they don't get 4 stars, service was nice but sllloooww. Oh yah and weirdo couples like to frequent this place and stare at everything you eat! That said go there and love it up
(4)Bryan S.
My friends raved about this place for so long. I was very excited to try it out. What a let down. They were out of half of the menu but the worst part was that the place is filthy! I cannot tolerate eating under those conditions and I won't return. I'm going to give it 2 stars because most of my friends still love to go there... maybe it's just me?
(2)