"The old Sound Bites was so packed they used to kick you out as soon as you finished eating," jokes 23-year-old Mary Gerard waiting in line with about 30 hungry patrons eager to snag a seat at Somerville’s Sunday brunch hotspot. The die-hard regular says it was love at first bite when she sampled Sound Bites’ infamous Mexican omelet. And now, after the owners moved the cramped diner to a larger locale on Broadway, she’s even more smitten. "The food has always been amazing but the ambience is much improved," Gerard gushes. "It’s worth the wait." Owner Yasser Mirza says it’s been a topsy-turvy year for the 10-year-old Ball Square fixture. In February, Sound Bites was singled out by the Food Network’s EVOO pixie, Rachael Ray, as one of Boston’s "Tasty Treats." Soon after the show aired, Sound Bites lost its lease. "It was time to move," notes Mirza. "We needed more space." What’s the secret to Sound Bites’ success? Manager Kelly Bruno believes it’s "great food and great service at reasonable prices." While the manager is ecstatic about the new digs, she says one thing hasn’t changed. "It’s a much larger space and we thought the lines wouldn’t be as long," adds Bruno. "We were wrong. The lines are still here. It’s been extremely overwhelming, but in a good way." DID YOU KNOW? Sound Bites’ owner, Yasser Mirza, offers free coffee to patrons who wait in line for Sunday brunch. "Everybody knows if you have to wait outside you get free coffee," says Mirza. "Once in awhile, we even put out free muffins if the line is really long."

This old-school greasy spoon is known for its "Kiss My Grits!" service. Kelly’s Diner is a classic ‘50s-style silver boxcar with huge portions and an endless supply of coffee. This hotspot’s ambience alone is enough to keep them coming back with oldies tunes on the radio and a cutout of James Dean in the doorway.