Restaurants

Dear Diner: Kelly’s Diner in Ball Square, Somerville, MA

It was a Saturday.  Morning of the Decent Community flip-cup tournament and the plan was get the team together for a good breakfast and let our preparation begin for four hours of free flowing low grade beer.

Ideas were thrown but in the end it was Kelly’s Diner where we pointed our nose and mouths.  As I rolled into Ball Square (located in the middle of nowhere Somerville), I felt as if I came upon a secret hideout.  Streets were lined up with tons of patrons waiting to grab a spot at their favorite morning joint.  The hot spot appeared to be Sound Bites.  I was impressed with the hussle and bussle.  It added to my flip-cup tournament preparation.

Kelly’s is situated towards the end of the Ball Square strip, just before the overpass that crosses the commuter rail.  Kelly’s is maybe one of about two places in Boston proper that actually has a classic diner look, the other being Breakfast Club in Lower Allston.  This classic look of any establishment garners automatic points in the “Dear, Diner” column.

A brief history:

Kelly’s Diner is originally from New Castle, Delaware where it was put together in the 1950’s and at the time was one of the nations largest diner cars ever built.  For forty two years it stayed in the same spot and then in 1996 the Holmes Family chopped it in two and hauled it up to it’s current location in Ball Square.

There was a small wait at the door but the waitresses did their best to get everyone seated as quickly as possible.  Guaranteed bonus points right there - waitresses that care about their patrons (take note Danny’s).  The five of us were seated at a booth and the first thing I noticed was a mini music selector for the house jukebox.  It had all the classics from Elvis to the man behind all of Elvis’s music, Fats Domino.  However, this contraption was out of service and had been for sometime.  It was now just part of the decor.  A small drop in points for faking the ultimate addition.  It looks nice but for music lovers like me this was torture.  If it’s broken, take it out is what I say.

The menu was big but not too big where you felt overwhelmed.  Prices were standard where the most you’re going to pay is about $10 for your entire meal.  Maybe $12 if your waitress goes above and beyond her level of service.  Two things I noticed about the menu, all omelets are four egg (plus) and there’s more then just your standard small and large stack of pancakes or just blueberry.  They have Apple (French apples w/ cinnamon), Banana, Raspberry, Strawberry and Strawberry-chocolate and finally, John’s favorite, Chocolate Chip style with some powder sugar sprinkled on top - for the kids.

But I was going for that greasy, solid base so I opted for the steak & eggs.  Nothing crazy to report here accept that the steak was a perfect breakfast steak, not too stringy or rubbery, just the right amount of fat to keep it juicy.

Finally, the service was on point.  From our coffees remaining fresh to the friendly banter.  These folks love their job and it shows.

But you don’t need to take my word for it, Kelly’s was nominated as a top 5 diner in New England by Yankee Magazine.

Directions:

674 Broadway
Somerville, MA 02144

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