IYO Cafe

Excellent spot to have coffee and people watch! more

Diesel is more than a cool coffee spot. They do have amazing coffee drinks, lattes, and teas, but they also have an exquisite list of sandwiches, wraps, salads, and much more. It is the only cafe I know with an antique photo booth and no trash cans. It caters to the environmentally friendly crowd (obviously heavy in the recycling category), and the Tufts students in the area. It can be very difficult to find a seat, especially one you really want. They have wireless internet access, which is great, but also entices people to stay for hours on end. While I don't think you can really go wrong picking breakfast, lunch, or brunch at Diesel, my favorite is the 02144, which is a vegetarian wrap with hummus, greens, carrots, sprouts, and more. more

Now that the weather is warming up, I'm even more looking forward to hanging at the Diesel, hoping to get one of the half dozen tables in the front. During the warm weather, they open up the glass storefront -- appropriately, really a glass garage door -- and you are simultaneously inside and outside!\r \r As a natural redhead, I burn crisp in about 15 minutes, so I've always sought out shaded patios, and this qualifies in my book. Plus the front seating lets you check out who comes in and out, and so I see all my friends from the neighborhood.\r \r The Diesel is a classic coffeehouse, with art on the walls, and everyone there from the old Somerville grayhairs to hipsters to Tufts students cramming in the corners. It's the social anchor of Davis. Pros: comfy, good coffee, social conscience, wifi Cons: limited menu, often crowded, pay for wifi more

I'm not quite hipster enough for Diesel Cafe. I'm not a Tufts student or vegan or bassist or struggling novelist or whomever else hangs out here at all hours of the day every day. What I am is addicted to espresso, and that's really what keeps me coming back when I'm in the area. I've never really eaten here. I think I had a yogurt parfait once (good! from what I remember). This review is based solely on the amazingness that is the Iced Caramel Latte. The Iced Caramel Latte is a thing of beauty. The most perfect Iced Caramel Latte outside of California (COFFEE BEAN, I LOVE YOU! COME TO MASSACHUSETTS!). The espresso is smooth and rich, with the perfect balance of milk and syrup. They even top the iced latte with a little foam. Love it! The first sip is like a sweet dream. I spent weekends for the better part of a year in Davis, so how I would pry myself out of bed to run was with the promise of this tasty beverage as reward. Mem'ries! Pros: Caramel Latte Cons: *shrugs* more

I have yet to introduce somebody to the Lil Piston sandwich at Diesel Cafe who does not immediately fall in love with it - from prissy girls to football jocks. Amazing. For a little over 8 dollars (yes a pretty expensive sandwich but totally worth it) you can get this AMAZING sandwich with huge chunks of fresh mozarella, mixed greens, delicious pesto, tomato and yummy turkey. It sounds like a typical sandwich but I have not yet been able to find a decent replication anywhere else. The place sometimes uses up certain ingredients before the end of the day, but this is because they would rather serve the freshest ingredients possible, or nothing at all. In college I used to come here and study and sip on some of their delicous free trade coffee. I made the horrible mistake of bringing Starbucks in there once - don't do it. I got yelled at. I wish I could have some Diesel right now! Pros: Mouth watering sandwich, fun vibe Cons: A little on the expensive side but totally worth it, parking, only one meat available (turkey) more

Diesel Cafe is not that cheap and it doesn't have much vegan food, but it's got a cozy, welcoming vibe that makes it KICK A$$. I subscribe to their WiFi service ($13/month) and make good use of it - judging by the number of laptops around, so do a slew of others. I dig the comfy couches and the rotating art exhibits, and I like it that various social groups meet in the back corner on different nights, like the knitting klatch and the lesbian single moms. Plus where else can you find a black and white photo booth to commemorate your fine self?? Whoever you are, whatever you want, you'll feel welcome here. Pros: Great place to study for hours on end Cons: Gets darn crowded at night more

The last 4 times I have gone there they have ran out of bread! Whether its been 5pm or 10pm, they have been out. All they have are salads and sandwiches, how can they not have bread. Usually they will subsitute pita if they are out of bread when you order a salad, but they didn't even have pita last time. It makes me not want to go there, I love the little piston with the great french bread, otherwise its not a sandwich. When they DO have bread, its awesome, i love it. I think they should have free WiFi though, i mean, boloco in Davis has it and Diesel is definitely a few steps up from that Pros: great food, nice ambience Cons: always out of bread, long lines, dont pick up the phone for takeout more

... and they make the most beautifully thick foam on cappucinos that I've ever seen. I've yet to have a bad cup of coffee here, and unlike Starbucks, you can almost always grab a seat someplace. And you have to like a place that has a pool table :) Pros: great coffee, pool table more

I love this place. It has the feel of a bar type hang out, minus the obnoxious drunks. Some coffee shops give me the feeling that although they aren't starbucks, they're trying to be. Diesel is wonderfully unique and has it's own vibe. There are actually comfortable chairs and tables, and nothing feels 'overly stylized.' This place far exceeds any other coffee shop I've been to lately. Definitely gears more towards the Evening Coffee Drinker's Mentality....Enjoy! more

Diesel does a great job of serving delicious coffee at a fraction of the cost of its peer coffeshops, plus it is in a great spot for relaxing, people watching, shooting pool, studying, or whatever. They always get my order right, and in a quick fashion. The shop maintains the feel of a neighborhood hang-out, and attracts a lot of students and locals. On busy evenings, you'll have to wait to play pool, because there are only two tables. When the weather is nice, they'll open the front of the shop up to the sidewalk. I hope they don't change a thing - this is a really lovable place. Pros: Delicoius coffee, Atmosphere, Open late more

Gets crowded and/or noisy at times, but still a nice place to hang out with your friends, gay or straight. The decor is funkier (in a good way) every time I visit. Winter has me looking forward to their hot chocolate (served with generous dollops of whipped cream), and any time of year is good for their brownies -- the mint ones in particular are to die for! Pros: GLBT friendly, good hot chocolate, delicious brownies more

this place is great!!! the food is fresh and well-prepared down to each lettuce leaf. great value for ur $$$. and service is EXCELLENT, i've yet to have an experience that is underpar Pros: food, service, great to study in Cons: i like it too much more

A great atmosphere and great food. A much better vegetarian selection than I am used to. Pros: good atmosphere more

Everything from the service to the espresso is top notch here. Every chance I get, I head down there for a ""Solid Six"", which keeps me going all day. I took it for granted when I lived in Davis Square. Now I am stuck in the Back Bay with no options, outside of the ""Starbuck experience"". Which is similar to going into a Store 24 with seats with their new automated espresso machines. more

The Diesel Cafe is a quiet, friendly caffeine and food providing establishment where the smell of coffee does not permeate the air. This quality allows people of all stripes (my friends don't drink coffee for example) to join there for a game of pool, to shoot the breeze, to people watch, or to work on the laptops of choice. Pros: Great Selection, Friendly, Inexpensive Cons: Crowded more

Diesel is an amazing mix of amazing coffee beverages and delicous food in a great atmosphere. In a world dominated by the Starbucks man it is so nice to have something real and not mass produced. Pros: inexpensive, comfortable Cons: no parking, crowded more