Montrose Spa

For a little convenience store, I'm shocked that they have everything that corner stores typically don't have - berries, Impossible Meats, salads, and more. While things are cheaper at Star Market (down the street), just go to Montrose Spa if you need something quick and don't have the time to walk or bike down to the grocery store. Just keep in mind that in order to use your credit card, there has to be a $5 minimum.

In a quaint storefront on Mass Ave lives the greatest convenience store, bodega, depanneur, spa, whatever the hell you want to call it: Montrose Spa. Somehow, this tiny place manages to have most of what I would buy just down the road at Star Market, yet it's much closer to my apartment and also, sometimes...cheaper? I'll never understand that, but I'm here for it. Anyway, from fresh eggs, dairy, and produce to kombucha and bougy Swedish cookies, to Method (!) dishwashing soap and birthday cards...Montrose has it all. My only complaint WAS the old refrigeration unit that was starting to smell, mm, a little ripe, but that was recently upgraded to a new and odorless version. In other words, this place is perfect. I'm saying that, and I've never even had the Cubano sandwich.

The cuban sandwich at Montrose Spa is delicious! Well-pressed so that it's crispy on the outside and an optimal ratio of meats to bread. The pickles inside add further flavor, texture, and juiciness. They also cut the sandwich in a clever way (on the diagonal) so that it's easier to eat. This is not one of those super-thick attractive-to-the-eye sandwiches with crusty bread that ends up jabbing your gums and the insides of your mouth and resulting in half of the filling falling out in a chaotic mess. This sandwich-of-substance allows you to take comfortable, perfectly civilized bites while maintaining the integrity of its fillings. The store also carries fresh cherry tomatoes. The lady at the register is also very nice. As the weather gets warmer, this is a great place to pick up a meal/picnic on the go and some fresh produce for cooking at home.

20 years later (after I graduated) the Cuban sandwich stillKills. Make sure you ask for extra crispy.

With all the gentrification comes overrated and expensive deli style corner shops so it's not as easy to find these nice classic spots where you just get a reasonably priced breakfast sandwich and a coffee. Luckily I had been working nearby and found this spot on my way to Starbucks so I was able to go here instead. Great and friendly service, there's sweet older couple that owns and runs it. There's usually flowers out front giving it a warm and inviting ambiance. Grab a quick breakfast if you're drinking down mass ave in Cambridge.

We always get subs from here. We usually order Italian. The bread is fresh and the meats and cheeses are all done correctly for this sandwich. Family run store too. Nice atmosphere. You can call in your order ahead of time which is recommended as it gets very busy at lunch time.

They have an amazing selection for a small convenience store: it's more like a gourmet store. I think they keep an inventory of items their food-savvy customers like to have. For me, Organic Stonyfield Yogurt, a good selection of fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. Plus a good selection of herbal teas, breads, crackers, etc. They also carry newspapers. I think the owners really know what they're doing. Basically, anything I need on short notice, they have. They are always busy with people buying homemade sandwiches. And they have a good selection of high-end ice cream and treats. The people working there, including the owner, are very pleasant.

Don't waste your time here. Go to Bagelsaurus, where the owner and staff remember my name and always greet me with a smile and pleasant conversation, and are always happy to see me. Go to Wholesome Fresh Market in Harvard square on Church street, where they remember your name, are respectful, friendly and happy to talk to you, have a large selection of exotic groceries and everyday items, and make excellent food. I have patronized Montrose Spa since I moved to Cambridge. I would order breakfast sandwiches, lunches , many grocery items, and the newspaper for years. The staff is always polite and respectful. The owner used to be kind and pleasant, but in the last year he has consistently been rude, and lacking any respect for a long term customer. I will not be returning to support his business.

I love this place! It has everything I need--so many times that in the middle of cooking I've realized I don't have something, from tofu to potatoes to coconut milk, and found it at Montrose Spa. I also love the selection of snacks and drinks, including a wide variety of hipster chips/pretzels/etc, fancy cookies, and a million types of seltzers and sodas.I love their breakfast sandwiches, they are a really great deal! Most of their normal sandwiches are also good, varying from mediocre to quite good. My only complaint is that they are usually quite slow at making sandwiches. There is usually only one or two people working there, and they are trying to juggle making sandwiches and checking out customers at the same time. I recommend calling ahead to put in your order (which is very easy to do, no credit card or other information required) at least 10 minutes in advance.Also take note that they have a credit card minimum, I can't remember if it is $5 or $10.

My first job in a long time. Met a lot of great friends. I worked hard five nights a week. I kept my nose clean and I nevertheless found a job dream.