Trident Booksellers & Cafe
(617) 267-8688
338 Newbury St
Boston,
MA
02115
42.3484
-71.0866
Neighborhoods: Back Bay, Black Bay West
What People Are Saying About Trident Booksellers & Cafe
The Editor
Gerrish Lopez
Citysearch
The Back Bay's leading alternative bookstore doubles as a welcoming cafe, much to the delight of its loyal patrons, and is one of the few fixtures on Newbury that's still humming at midnight. For many, the Trident serves as a neighborhood hangout, and with free wireless Internet access, the cafe provides a relaxing spot to get some work done. No one looks askance if customers bring books they're merely browsing to the cafe, pondering pages to purchase over a bite to eat. The cafe features an espresso bar and serves from a lengthy menu of comfort fare, including all-day breakfast and lots of vegetarian options.
Photo by Christine Liu
User Reviews
Palateers
February 13, 2009
Trident has a lot of positive things going for it, yet it is one the biggest food disappointments we have ever encountered. We loved the idea of the bookstore/cafe. Isn?t that the dream of every Palateer? Sipping your coffee while reading travel books about Honduras? How idyllic and very attainable because if your ambitions for Trident are simply to sit around and peruse a book while nursing a cup of tea for several hours, then we agree you are in the right place. But keep your expectations low if you ever order the food. First the good: Trident is all about the atmosphere. We love the long bar and tall stools, which are perfect for surfing the internet (which is free!!!), chatting with strangers or reading the newspaper.Anyone could get lost meandering around the book shelves perusing the eclectic selection of literature or watching a silent film of Charlie Chaplin on the two widescreens. Now the bad:The Palateers have ordered food from Trident on numerous occasions, always with the sincere hope that the food will live up to the exorbitant prices and tantalizing menu descriptions. However, every hope for a delicious meal has been revolted like sour milk on an empty stomach. Ok, the food isn?t horrible. It is edible, but it doesn?t deserve the high prices.Also, couldn?t servings be a little bit larger? For a $9 waffle, we expected more than a single waffle with a few chopped strawberries. It was disappointing that the $10 omelet completely lacked flavor.The $11 Veggie burger was mediocre and how much would it take to add fries at no cost or maybe a side salad? The same complaints were had across the menu. Such high prices warrant finer quality food and larger portions. Trident has the potential in our minds to be one of the best establishments on the block, it is the end game that needs a rehab.This is a Palateer call to action to get your food menu under control, Trident. Google "Palateers" additional reviews
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Anonymous
February 05, 2008
Being at Trident allows you to break out of the box on the chain bookstores and the chain coffee houses. There's a wide range of people who come here, from college students, to locals, to families in the city for the day. It's a great place to spend any of the day's meals. The breakfast burritos are particularly good and the fresh juices (as in, they juice it) are a great pick me up for the day.
read full reviewlucybackbay
February 23, 2007
I recently moved to the neighborhood and discovered Trident Cafe almost by accident one day. The staff made me feel so welcome, the service was fantastic, the food was really good and reasonably priced. Great place to go alone, with your honey, with your pals or with your kids!
read full reviewThe Details on Trident Booksellers & Cafe
The Extras:
Their dinner menu is served daily from 5pm to 11:30pm and features comfort-food specialties such as pan-seared pork chops and pumpkin-and-brie filled ravioli.
What to Drink:
If you're not in the mood for beer, wine or caffeine, select from a lengthy list of invigorating juice blends and smoothies, like the Mango Tango (mango, orange juice, honey, vanilla ice cream).
Category:
Restaurants, Diners, Bookstores
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Quiet, Brunch, View Dining, Lunch Spot, Cheap Eats
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
No
