The Early American

A few years ago we were regulars here coming every weekend for breakfast. About a year ago we stopped coming here altogether due to poor service… both long waits and rude servers. We came back today and nothing has changed. Food is good and the atmosphere is simple and exactly what you’d want in a breakfast joint. If you place service at the top of your list when it comes to eating out you’ll want to find another establishment

The Early American is a classic American breakfast experience. The food is straightforward breakfast and lunch with a few things that have really stood out:
1. The eggs Benedict. Perfect portion, excellent hollandaise sauce.
2. The one pound burger. Did you have one of those weeks where you said that you have a craving for red meat? This is the cure– be sure to leave the calorie counter at home.
3. Homefries– cubed, slightly fried, solid.
4. Irish Benedict. Early American makes some wicked good corned beef hash.
There are often delicious specials– bagel and lox, omelette and waffle specials… Some gems.
All of the above gets Early American 4 stars. The 5^th star is for Rita. Rita is a presence who serves practicality, humor, reliability and a smile to the Early American. And… Did I mention they rock great seasonal décor and all the staff dressed up for Halloween weekend!

I work down the street and have been looking for a great breakfast place to get take out on my way to work. The first time I went here, the food was so good that I suggested to my co workers we come here. Thought, great, finally found a place that’s not wicked greasy and decent pricing! I called a second time to double check if they take credit cards and ask for a price of an omelet. The waitress who answered the phone was so rude, answered my question and as I was mid sentence of asking to place an order she hung up on me. Thought maybe she was just busy. Called a third time and placed my order. Got an attitude because I asked for a 2 egg omelet instead of a huge one. Went to work and my omelet was burnt to a crisp. Was thinking about giving this place another shot but decided because of the rudeness, I am all set.

I’ve been here a few times with OK service, but we went last Sunday around noon, Sat at a table for 20 minutes with 3 servers walking by, looking at our menu-​less table & no drinks & ignored us. One server behind the counter made a comment of how I was «staring» and then proceeded to not so cheerfully take our order. She was in such a hurry to NOT wait on us my coffee cup was filled half way with the rest spilling all over the table. And she never made eye contact once. There are much better breakfast joints in the area with much friendlier staff.

This is one of the few places up here that serves grits, and as someone who used to live in the south, I really appreciate that. The staff is very nice and the prices are fair. Great food!

Looked like a cute little spot for breakfast and we were seated pretty quickly for a Sunday. Unfortunately, we had to ask to change tables since we were blinded by the sun at the window. They moved us right away but then they seemed to forget about us. Not sure if they were upset about us asking to move?! Our waitress was less than attentive. She barely took our order, not even asking what type of toast we wanted. We waited what seemed like a long time for our food but did not complain. She delivered the meal never asking if we needed anything else or coming back to make sure if everything was OK. We had to ask the woman bussing tables for the few things we needed. Finally we waited some time for the change from our bill since the waitress as was at the counter looking at her phone. We were given the wrong change and had to go back in to have it corrected.
The food itself was actually very good but we are unlikely to return because of the terrible service. We have been to busier places that have done a much better job.

Let me start by saying this place has THE BEST corned beef hash in the area. Eggs are great, buttery toast is amazing. If there was an option for 4.5 stars I would put that if this place was little cleaner. The staff can be pretty rude and unwelcoming, but that doesn’t stop me from coming. Easily my go to breakfast joint.

Just stopped by for the second Saturday in a row and was not disappointed. Had the flagpole sandwich with a coffee milkshake and both were absolutely delicious. The service was quick and everyone extremely polite. Can’t wait to go back.

I just had breakfast here w my two year old and five year old, girls. My omelet was way over cooked, and I couldn’t eat it.
It took the waitress ten minutes to bring me something to drink, and I had to go up and ask when my kid’s drinks would be coming. She decided they don’t need them until their food comes because «kids suck down their juice».
Our bill came to $ 27 dollars, I eat out in the city constantly… with other adults, …I know the price of things… this seemed wrong to me… she explained that it is correct, and told me she gave me a deal, because the two apple juices that she finally brought in little styrofoam coffee cups, should’ve cost me $ 4 each!!!
So I decided to let her know that the price of the meal is a bummer considering my omelet was so over cooked it was unpleasant to eat. She said in her hundreds of years of working there, this is the first time anyone has ever complained.
One of my favorite things to do is go out for breakfast, I’ve been here before, and it wasn’t bad, that’s why I came back today.
I guess it just comes down to consistency, and whether or not the old lady likes you that day.
I’ll never come back… not just because of the price, and the food that was poorly made… but also because the way we were treated. I can make my own delicious eggs… going out should be a treat, you should leave happy, not feeling robbed & pissed off.

Love it. I don’t understand how this place is only 3 stars! I got the corned beef hash and it was amazing. Great quality, homemade with big chunks of corned beef. The coffee was great too and not bitter! I just moved in around the corner and am so happy this place is within walking distance. Took a take out menu — they also have POUND burgers. Not sure I can accomplish that, but looking forward to checking out their lunch.

Been here a few times now since moving to Boston. It’s exactly what you expect it to be. American breakfast, cheap. I’ve read other reviews and they talk about poor customer service, no clue what they are talking about, have always been treated great. Could I cook this at home of course I could but I don’t want to cook that’s why I came out to eat. You want gourmet food, go pay $ 30 a plate for breakfast in Boston.

Nothing really spectacular about this place, to be completely honest. It is exactly as its advertised — American breakfast — except tastes like something I could make at home and not travel to eat. I ordered the French toast with sausage and was highly disappointed. I’ve had some rocking French toast in my day — these do not compare or even come close. The service was not good, our wait person was really just uninterested in good customer service and well-​versed in not answering questions asked by… well the customers. 2 stars because it filled me up — certainly not satisfied, very ordinary place. Try something else if you’re in the area. Don’t waste your time.

I eat out for a living. Practically. And I haven’t had such horrible service both from the staff and the owner. EVER. Tons of attitude and I would go as far as saying they are racist. I am visiting from New York and cannot believe how rude I was treated. The owner was extremely disrespectful and crushed the receipt. My money is just as good as theirs. But was treated like I wasn’t entitles to eat a decent brunch with my friends. This place doesn’t deserve any money from anyone.

Set out on the 4^th of July looking for breakfast. Was about to give up and just stop and Dunkin when we spotted this place. So huge points for being open on a holiday, first of all. The staff was all friendly and full of smiles. There were books and magazines near the entrance to borrow, nice to keep everyone in your party occupied if needed.
The food was great. Those homefries were possibly the best I’ve ever had. Perfectly seasoned and salty. It’s funny, they don’t look like much, but when you taste them it’s a whole different world.
The french toast was good. I like thin slices of bread, and this place does that. The only thing I didn’t love was the kielbasa. I am addicted to keilbasa for breakfast, and they do have it here, but it wasn’t the kind I am accustomed to. It was ok, but not amazing.
Everything else was great, I will totally be back!
Also, it happens to have the perfect décor for the 4^th of July.

Worst grits I have ever had. They resemble a soupy cream of wheat. And nothing special about the ham and eggs. The coffee and chocolate chip pancakes were decent. The service is fine as long as you can catch the wait staff to ask for what you need. Wish we had gone elsewhere.

This place is awesome. What more could you ask for in a little breakfast and lunch joint? The food is excellent, the coffee is great, always hot and kept flowing, and the prices are nearly impossible to beat. There’s a reason the line goes out the door on weekend mornings.
Reading through some of these reviews, it’s hard to believe people are talking about the same place. Some of you Unilocalers need to get over yourselves, and consider that maybe you’re getting bad customer service because you’re a bad customer.
Some tips: Check the specials on the chalkboard outside — tough to beat. Can’t go wrong with the corned beed hash.

Plusses– a varied menue and lunch and breafast are served at the same time. Some good items; grits which can be hard to find, homemade hash-​which can be mushy and many seasonal specialties with an imaginative flair.
minuses-​its crowded, the coffee is merely meh. the wait is longer than it needs to be and very rarely is there a pleasant waitress. Much of the food is just fair.

Quincy has some other great breakfast places.
My experience a few months ago includes average food and awful service. The older waitress there Rita was extremely rude as a person. and by the looks of other reviews here this isn’t unusual. Unfortunately this was back in the Spring and I don’t remember exactly what she was saying. It was enough that It was the topic of our entire breakfast conversation and even days later (horrifying).
I assume that she’s a family member of the owners which is why she’s still working.
I’m from Quincy and I’m never coming here again and to anyone else, I think you’re much better off at Newcomb’s, McKays, probably even IHOP down the road.
2 stars for average food and awful service.

Terrible. Never in my life have I had the distinct displeasure of suffering in such as a way as I had during my most recent (first and final) visit to The Early American. The table was unclean, the mug into which my ‘coffee’ (that sorry excuse for coffee… so utterly weak, those cheap bastards) had been poured was similarly filthy, but the conversations I overheard taking place between the rather geriatric server and my co-​resteraunteurs, was utterly entertaining. Within ear shot I was subjected to a barrage of racial slurs primarily regarding the various minority populations of Boston. Yes, that’s right…
I would never repatronize an establishment that condones racial bigotry in any of its horrific instantiations. Bad form…

I really enjoyed my visit here! unexpectedly. I say that bc we just wanted to go somewhere nearby and cheap to eat, and decided on this lil diner.
The ambiance is so sweet, old American style diner. open since 1988. The older lady that works there is so sweet and friendly.
The food was soo reasonably priced (cheap) and yummy. I had their famous Beef Hash on a roll for lunch and it was pretty good. just wanted I wanted.
My friend ordered the Turkey Reuben with Sourkraut. Pretty good too.
I’d def be back and eat there again, such a little neighborhood gem. Just lovely.