Rosebud Diner

I am new to this area, but I already feel like a local when I eat out at this diner. My boyfriend and I have eaten breakfast here about once a week for the last month and a half, and we have never been disappointed. The food is fine - but we don't go here for the food. The staff is awesome, and everybody has a great time. We go to this diner for the experience. It's really the most enjoyable breakfast I've had, and I'll continue to patronize this diner for (hopefully) a very long time to come. Five stars for being fabulous!! more

In the fictionalized movie of my life (where I come off way cooler than I actually am), I envisioned Rosebud Bar as being *the* borderline divey place I would've frequented in my youth. It's where I would be when I wasn't at Lizard Lounge (what I refer to as a friend's rec room). As a small music venue it works. You'll be able to hear the music wherever you are in the bar, it's just that you may not be able to see the band. During shows, waiters/waitresses walk around the crowd around asking people if they want drinks..a definite plus to some music venues in Boston that are mostly standing room. No need to fight your way to the bar. Shows do run later, so there are times when catching the train and seeing the headlining band has not always worked out. Rosebud is in Davis Square (access to the T and several buses and a decent walk to Porter) so yes, there is that cross of college kids, townies, cats that like Keno & cheap hooch (drinks), and folks like me coming in from Boston.. so to say the least it's definitely interesting on the people watching side of things. You will talk to random strangers and you will probably get some beer spilled on you. Whatever, it's not like your parents are going to sniff you when you get home, right? Well.. in the movie version of my life they wouldn't take out that breathalyzer. Pros: Music, cheap drinks, good service Cons: Drunk townies on occasion more

Let me begin by stating I am something of a diner nut, and have photographed, reviewed and dined at hundreds of diners. I have dined at the Rosebud two times previously and have always enjoyed the food and exceptional service. Pros: exceptional food, fair prices Cons: very rude waitstaff, incompetent kitchen staff, bizarre rules about moving from the counter to tables more

Writing in praise of Rosebud is easy. It's a casual, fun, down-to-earth meals kind of place. You get into a low-key camraderie with other diners, as there's a tv with the baseball game on, while enjoying a fine home-cooked meal with nice service at an affordable price. Pros: Reasonably priced homestyle cooking Cons: Hard to find parking on busy nights more

This was one of the strangest and least pleasant dining experiences we've had in a while. more

I read a review on Rosebud and decided that the service was not as important as the supposedly amazing breakfast. It was a mistake. The food was HORRIBLE. The service was great. more

I'm glad to read the other reviews that trash this place--reason well the service is terrible- the policy of no cell phone lap top or god forbid you ask the bartender (owner) to change the TV channel --he was watching the celtics during the final 4..The CELTICS.. Food OK -- one other thing do not dare to walk into this place with a Dunkin Donuts cup-- the waitress was so nervous as the owner has a Soup Nazzi stance of customer control about him.. there are a few other places to consider in the area--if your looking to read your newspaper and have a good meal while having a good conversation with the staff and enjoying your morning this is not the place to do it.. Go Celtics Pros: Great Location Cons: OWNER is a real piece of work more

I went to the Rosebud for a quick dinner one night.. I had a great burger (tender and juicy with a lot of cheese on top) and some cold beer. I was pleased with the food and loved the atmosphere (1950's diner). I had absolutely no problem with service... my waitress was prompt, friendly, and polite. I would definately go back for a casual dining experience. Pros: food, atmosphere Cons: small space more

Best pancakes ever. Period. Go for breakfast, served until 3 pm on weekends. Highly recommend their breakfast combos. Lunch fare isn't bad either, burgers and sandwiches are above average. During the summer try Gaspacho, it's worth the wait. Full liqour license and a well stocked bar. Neat atmoshpere, like stepping back in time, into a 1950's diner. They even have the old fashioned cash register (the CC swipe is nestled next to it, inconspicuosly). The building is on the National Registry of Historic Places and it's worth seeing. Pros: Close to the T, cheap and good Cons: For whatever reason, they don't give you enough water? Either order bottled or bother waitress every time you empty the 5 oz cup more

My friends and I have frequented the Rosebud Diner for a little over a year now and although we were on occasion pressured to order quickly and did have to sit at the bar during their big Sunday breakfast when we would have preferred a table, we continued to return because we love the hamburgers and onion rings and thought it was fun to go to such a buzzing place for breakfast once in a while. I will, however, NEVER EAT THERE AGAIN! Over the last couple of months I've gone to Rosebud and ordered take out as well as calling ahead and ordering for pick-up. Each time I was waited on by the same woman and she was always stressed out and complaining. If there were two people in the place or the place was packed this woman was stressed regardless and when I go to a restaurant I am not interested in hearing the complaints of the employees, I'd like to have a nice atmosphere. Last night at around 9:30pm I called to make an order for pick up. The same stressed woman answered the phone and wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise as she yelled that they were totally slammed and the kitchen was not taking any orders at this time and that there would be an hour wait. I tried to tell her that I didn't mind waiting an hour but before I could even finish my sentence she hung up on me. I called back a few minutes later and the same woman started to yell the same thing she had before. I tried to speak and she interrupted me to the point that I had to say,""please let me finish my sentence..."" Then she told me to hold on for 5 minutes. I did. When she returned to the phone she told me they needed to run a credit card through and could I call back in 10 minutes. I said that I wanted to just give her my order now and I would come to get it in an hour because I was afraid that if I called back in an hour (as she wanted me to) that I would be told I'd have to wait another 1/2 hour or hour. She yelled at me and said that would not happen, but I was not reassured by her tone or her treatment of me and I was totally annoyed so I just said ""ok"" and she hung up. I went to the grocery store and bought dinner. An hour later I called again and asked to speak with the manager. The same stressed woman told me she was the manager (I couldn't believe it) so I asked to speak with the manager again and she repeated that it was her. I proceeded to tell her that I was not happy with the treatment I received earlier on the phone and that her manner of speaking to me was unprofessional. She started to yell again and repeat that they had been slammed and she couldn't keep up with the crowd and people were giving her dirty looks and the kitchen told her that they would not take anymore orders etc... I had to interrupt her to tell her that she was currently not being professional and if that was the situation then that is poor management. I asked for a way to contact the owner and she told me he would say the same things to me that she was and would not give me his contact information. She continued to yell at me about her earlier predicament. I explained to her that I have worked in food service (waitstaff and food prep) and I know what it's like to be slammed but that did not justify her treatment of me. I said that I would not be returning to Rosebud then she brought her voice down and said next time I came in I would be well taken care of. It was too little too late. I told her that her people skills and management need some work. To which she hung up on me. All I had wanted to order was a side of onion rings! When going to a restaurant one wants good food, nice atmosphere and friendly service. While some of the menu items at Rosebud are good, the decor is fun (it's an old train car) and I like that cell phones are not allowed, the service is far from friendly and the customer is left feeling unappreciated and as though an apology is in order for inconveniencing the employees by bringing them business. Pros: Location, no cell phones allowed Cons: SERVICE IS TERRIBLE! more

I recently went there with a party of 3, waiting for a booth. First, they only gave me a spot for 2, and then when I corrected them, I had to wait in line again. Next, they gave me 3 spots in stools along the ""bar"". One of my party had bags with him (he had just arrived on the train), and I live close by, so he ran back to my apartment instead of making us wait in line again(that was the option, we would go to the end of the list). When he was gone, we were informed that there was a rule (not posted) that if all your party isn't there, you don't get seats. So, needless to say, we left. My impression is, if you want good service, don't go here. If you like having to ""serve"" the owners/waitstaff, then by all means. Pros: location Cons: employee attitude, rules not posted, small size more

I live a few blocks away from this place and usually love diner food, but I will NEVER go back. The staff is extremely rude, the food is mediocre, and the service is slow. We placed our order with the bartender, then moved to a booth when one opened up. The guy YELLS at us that we can't sit at a booth unless we order entrees--which we just did, with HIM, about 2 minutes earlier. It was unbelievable how rude everyone was; there seemed to be someone of authority sitting at the bar who didn't even flinch at this kind of behavior. Our food came and was totally mediocre. I honestly can't believe this place is still in business. Pros: Location? Cons: Food, Staff, Everything Else more

If you're gonna eat here, be prepared to undergo intense behavior scrutiny. No substitutes, no laptops, no cell phones, and my favorite, NO WATER in a glass, only in a small styrofoam cup with no refills! The food is nothing special. The service and wait staff is a joke. You'll never meet people who hated their job more than at this place. I live a block away and have no intention of ever eating here again. In a nutshell, I do not recommend this place. Pros: umm..., it looks cool? Cons: bad service, small menu, too many rules more

This place has a ""no laptop"" policy and they are rather rude about it. I met a friend there to do some schoolwork and ordered a drink and a bowl of chile, yet they wouldn't let me use my laptop, because it's ""not that kind of place."" The guy behind the bar simply yelled out, ""no laptops."" I wasn't even sure he was talking to me until he said it again louder, ""lady, no laptops. this isn't that kind of place."" What is that supposed to mean? What kind of place do I belong with my laptop? The waitress was nice and tried to explain, but the way the guy yelled at me, I felt like a kindergartner. Food was average. Pros: Reasonably priced, Fast Cons: Rude guy behind bar, weird rules more

I've going there lately every weekend for breakfast. The diner is clean and upbeat. Service was warm and attentive. For $6-$7 I can get a big plate of breakfast. Food is great. Love this place. Pros: Food, Price, Atmosphere more

went there while i was down in somerville and i'll tell you this, i never had food like i did that day. it was the best food that i have ever tasted. every time that i go down to somerville i will be going there. there is no other place for me. more

I went at 1:30 on a Sunday. One person rudely told us that we shouldn't wait for a booth, and then he told us that the were only serving breakfast, which would have been fine, had the people that came in right after us not been allowed to order from the lunch menu. Then the service was VERY slow - we waited over 20 minutes for an omlette. Other people came into the restaurant after we place our order - ordered, ate and left before our food was ready. The food was good, but not worth the hassle. I know a dozen places that offer more selection and equally as good of food. Pros: cheap, kitch environment, good food Cons: bad service, rude staff, poor selection more