Crave Cafe is now open and doing business at 198 Holland St. in Somerville. – Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Cathleen Twardzik

Do you have a hankering for a breakfast burrito, a falafel or a burger? Well, Crave Cafe is your next stop in Somerville.

In late August, Crave Cafe opened at 198 Holland St. The cafe, situated where Renée’s Cafe was formally located, between Davis Square and Teele Square. However, it is closer to Teele Square.

The new cafe’s manager is happy to serve a varied fare in Somerville. “We’re glad to be in the neighborhood. A lot of nice people around here. We’ve been talking to a lot of people while doing construction. It’s awesome. Construction took a little bit of time, but it was mainly just painting and making sure all of our equipment was set,” said Sami Noufal, Manager.

“The owner is my father, Ayman Noufal, a long-time cook. So, it’s a father-son place,” said Noufal.

What is the cafe’s story? “We used to own a couple of restaurants. We owned one in Bedford and one in Boston. After COVID, we couldn’t open them anymore, so we had to close them. Then, we were driving by where the old Renée’s was, and we decided, ‘Hey, we just might as well put a restaurant in there. That sounds like a great idea,’” said Noufal.

Crave Cafe is open Tuesday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. They can be contacted at 617-625-2727.

So, go explore their dishes – which range from a steak and cheese sandwich to a gyro – to expand your palate.