This was so refreshing and cold. The mint and cucumber tasted fresh too it was awesome. Not too…read moresweet but sweet enough to give me energy to power the day The workers were really nice. They kept my drink for me while I went to go use the bathroom lol. Speaking of bathrooms there are two single stall gender neutral ones that are super clean and well kept. Also the interior is huge, lots of people were studying in here

This is a fun cafe in Cambridge. There was a line out the door every time we came to visit. Their…read morecoffee was highly recommended so we came to check it out. Their iced Americano was very good. They were also selling little duck pastries for Easter. That was a nice treat to see in the store. The second time we came here for breakfast. There was a long line out the door again. We managed to order and find a table. We ordered the breakfast egg sandwiches. It came with bacon, cheddar, arugula, tomato, and dijonaise on a milk bun. The dijonnaise did give the sandwich a little kick which was nice. The food was delicious and tasty. I will come here again when I get a chance.

Great food and service. We went for breakfast and got there twenty minutes before closing. We…read moreweren't rushed and treated excellent. The food was very good, the roasted potatoes are some of the best we've had.

The food was fine, but breakfast service is painfully slow. You really need to plan on about 90…read moreminutes, which isn't exactly ideal if you're trying to get on the road for a tour or make a business meeting. It's also really expensive for what you get. Honestly, the only reason I'd recommend eating breakfast here is if you're a Hyatt Globalist and it's included. Even then, make sure you have plenty of time to spare. Food was OK. Service was friendly enough. But a 90-minute breakfast at a hotel just doesn't work.

Came to Esmai's for an early dinner with my boyfriend and sat on the outdoor rooftop (we made a…read morereservation). The Highlights: Blush Hour cocktail & Shrimp baos: Easily a 10/10! Absolute must-trys. Calamari: Pretty good, but the sauce really made the dish. The Misses: The Pasta (2/10): Neither of us enjoyed this. The sauce was very watery and lacked flavor--it seemed like it relied on meat juices for flavor, but it just didn't work. Smash Burger: Just an average burger. Hard to mess up, but nothing to write home about. Vibe & Service: The rooftop ambience was nice with staff playing music on a speaker. Wait-staff were very attentive! A huge plus was the owner coming out to check on tables and joke around with guests! Note on space: Upstairs indoor seating seems okay for private events (there was a bridal shower happening while we were there), and downstairs has a classic sit-down/bar feel. Verdict: Total came out to $171 (including tip) for 4 drinks, calamari, baos, pasta, and a burger. If we return, we'd definitely stick to drinks, shrimp baos, and hanging out downstairs!

Another place that I have passed in Coolidge corner a bunch of times when I'm in the area. Esmai's…read morequietly opened up a year or two ago and I was always wondering what was inside. From just looking inside it looks like a very nice American bar and restaurant. For a space in Coolidge corner, it is definitely one of the biggest restaurants in the area since FuGakyu is closed (The OG ). It has two floors as well as a patio space they recently opened. This is an asian fusion restaurant with more emphasis on the americanized side if that makes sense? The patio area was so nice especially once it cools down in the evening with a nice view of brookline. The staff were great at bringing everything and making the food and drinks the focus rather than themselves. The menu is kind of small but mighty with a lot of delicious options. You can choose from salad to a ban mih to pasta to curry to a Hawaiian dish,loco moco! The drinks, though pretty small in size, are all really interesting combos. I got the extra 99 which had scallion, oolong and szechuan pepper infused oil. It was such an interesting savory taste.. One of my friends said it reminded her of the smell of ramen.The Loco moco was delicious. I'm not sure why I thought it would be a burger but it essentially was but just swap the buns for rice. I'm not a fan of egg but it was perfectly balanced with the egg and beef patty. They do have a couple of GF options YAY but apart from the two entree items on their brunch menu it's essentially veggies, fruit and salad. The brunch menu looks delicious so I would definitely come back to try it out. $$ Food 8 Atmosphere 8 Service 7 Loco Moco Extra 99 Blush hour Chateau spritz Summer thyme You can sip with is

Overall, I had a positive experience here for a Sunday lunch! Service was very friendly and…read morehelpful, and let us stick around for a while, refilling coffee and water without making us feel rushed. It had the vibe of a bustling diner/cafe with a good bit of seating available. I am vegetarian and have celiac disease (strictly gluten-free), and they had a few options. I went with the vegan meatballs with rice, which they confirmed were gluten-free and not fried in a shared fryer. The tomato sauce and vegan meatballs went well together, were adequately sesoned and savory. The rice felt a little bit dry, but otherwise overall the meal was pretty good.

Overall, the food here was just okay. We got Landwer's Famous Schnitzel, and that was definitely…read morethe highlight of the meal. The chicken was crispy, flavorful, and went really well with the fries. I'd recommend that dish! We also ordered the branzino fillet, but unfortunately it had a much stronger fishy taste and smell than we expected. It didn't taste very fresh to us, so we ended up not eating much of it. Service was also a little slow during our visit. Overall, I liked the schnitzel, but the branzino was disappointing and brought down the experience a bit.

Ambience: small little cafe tucked in the middle of Allston that wouldn't look all that special if…read morenot for the line outside. Not somewhere I would necessarily go for "vibes" but that just shows that the food speaks for itself Food: if I had to describe cafe weekend in a sentence, it's basically "a Korean's take on an American cafe". There's a subtle touch of Korean flavor and aesthetic in each item, like how the desserts aren't too overpoweringly saccharine and the Drop the Egg brioche sandwich has that mix savory/sweet that Koreans love. I personally loooved the very berry mascarpone French toast, and I'm not even a dessert person! Nothing was too oily or under seasoned. The food is definitely the highlight of this place! Service: The waitress checked on us a couple times to make sure things were running smoothly and she made great food recommendations which I loved.

Such a cute brunch place. Plus the food & drinks were good!…read more Ordered the shakshouka -- had the right amount of spiciness, and lots of tomatoes. A bit more on the watery end, but I still enjoyed it (this might be more of a preference thing). Good portions (I was definitely full, and my friend couldn't even finish her omelette lol). Also ordered the weekend latte -- it felt too creamy, milky, and "specialty" to be a proper coffee drink (ended up needing to buy Starbucks later on in the day), but still very yummy (so it's more of a fun drink). Heard the matcha was too sweet btw. ~$30pp, so it's a bit steeper for a brunch place, but def worth it.

If you're anywhere near Harvard Square, The Friendly Toast is absolutely worth a stop, especially…read moreif you're looking for a brunch spot that's just as fun as it is flavorful. The space is super vibrant, filled with bold colors, retro diner touches, and a bunch of quirky statement pieces that make you want to look around before you even check the menu. It feels playful and energetic without being overwhelming...definitely a place that stands out from your typical brunch spot. One of the most unique things about this place is the drink menu. I loved that you can order flights...not just for mimosas, but also spritzers/mixed drink and even coffee-inspired drinks. That's not something you see everywhere, and it made the whole experience feel a little more elevated and fun. Everything we tried was solid across the board. The drinks were well-made, balanced, and honestly just fun to try in a flight format. The menu itself keeps that same energy going with quirky, pop culture-inspired names that make ordering more entertaining than usual. But it's not just about the names, the food actually delivers. The chicken and waffles were a standout: crispy, flavorful, and perfectly paired with the sweetness of the waffle. The traditional breakfast was done right too: simple, classic, and exactly what you'd want when you're craving something familiar. The real surprise for me was the crispy pimento potato bowl with chicken. It was packed and layered with flavor: comforting, a little indulgent, and definitely filling. You can tell they're intentional about how they build their dishes, not just throwing things together. Shoutout to our waitress as well...she really made the experience better. She gave great recommendations, helped us navigate the menu (which has a lot of options), and made sure we picked dishes we'd actually enjoy. That kind of service goes a long way, especially at a busy brunch spot.

My husband and I had breakfast at The Friendly Toast in Cambridge about two weeks ago. It was our…read morefirst stop of the day and a great way to begin a day in Cambridge. The Friendly Toast was founded in 1994 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but has locations throughout New England now. It's easy to see why. This all-day brunch and bar is quirky and fun and unique. The decor of the Cambridge location is super eclectic. We arrived around 8:45am on a Saturday, and it wasn't busy yet (it's a huge restaurant). Since it was pretty quiet still, we had plenty of time to look around at the fun decor. The menu is as fun and eclectic as the decor with really fun small plates, breakfast classics, vegan options (like a tofu scramble and vegan pancakes), wild pancakes (cookie monster pancakes!?), and some healthier options. They currently have (or maybe always have?) a "Comeback Tour" menu of dishes that were popular that they brought back. My husband and I both chose from that menu. He got the Rice Baby Rice Comeback (grilled citrus chicken, seasoned rice, roasted street corn, black beans, pico de gallo and avocado topped with crispy tortilla strips, grated cotija, pickled onion, avocado cilantro sauce, and fresh cilantro), and I had the Medley Crue Comeback (two poached eggs served over a medley of home fries, tomatoes, spinach, red peppers, mushrooms, onion, zucchini and corn; topped with avocado cilantro sauce, lemon pepper sumac & fresh cilantro). Both dishes were great. They have a full drink menu, too, including flights (a mimosa flight, a coffee drink flight, and more), beer, wine, mocktails, classic cocktails, and more. I had their strawberries and cream coffee (cold brew with vanilla strawberry cold foam), while my husband stuck with a simple iced coffee. It's a really fun place for brunch, and I'd happy to return or visit another location. It's just a retro, quirky, happy place!

Okay, this might honestly be the BEST latte I've ever had. I loved it so much that I literally went…read moreback to buy another one on the SAME DAY. I was hooked. I got an iced latte with almond milk and black sesame cold foam, and the combination was absolutely incredible. The cold foam has the perfect salty touch, with little bits of sesame seeds that add such a unique texture and flavor. It's rich, nutty, slightly savory, and perfectly balanced without needing any extra sweetness. And just to clarify, that beautiful caramel color you see is NOT caramel! It's the espresso shot. I specifically wanted a drink that wasn't too sweet, and this was perfection. My only recommendation? PLEASE, offer bigger cup sizes I would happily buy a large or even an extra large because this drink is THAT good. Staff: incredibly nice + friendly + professional college students!!!

One of the spots that people kept recommending for good coffee & Bahn mi. overall takeaways: good…read morematcha color & flavor, drinks were not too sweet (which is an Asian compliment!), quaint spot. Would rate 5/5 on drinks, 4/5 on food. We got the customer favorite: iced pandan matcha (with oat milk for preference) -- overall: good matcha color & flavor, pandan was not too sweet, ice ratio was good. My bf really enjoyed this one! I also got the Iced Saigonese -- strong viet coffee, still yummy with the sweetness & the foam on top enhanced the creaminess of the drink. We ordered the BBQ Pork Bahn Mi + egg, I would recommend adding the egg for sure! The egg was creamy & runny, giving it extra flavor. However, Bahn mi itself was not particularly special. We actually ordered the egg after tasting the Bahn mi & it was a little dry. Nice location, seating inside & outside but construction was happening outside, so it wasn't as enjoyable. We had went around 1PM on a Wednesday & the seats were filled. Saw some people with computers, with no problem.

Milkweed was such a great experience! Everything from the food to the atmosphere was amazing. The…read morefood was great and well prepared and you can tell there's a lot of thought put into the menu. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming without feeling too casual, which makes it a great spot for brunch, lunch, or a cute date. The service was also great and everyone was friendly and attentive.

A busy place for brunch in Mission Hill! If you are going for a weekend brunch, there will…read moredefinitely be a wait - my friend and I waited about 20 to 30 minutes for a table on a Sunday at around 11:00. But I do think the wait is worth! We split the berry pancakes and the two eggs any style and chose bacon as the breakfast meat. Well-executed, but my socks were not blown off! Perhaps I need to try some of their more innovative dishes, I would love to come back and try their shakshuka. At Milkweed, the service is quick and simple. We sat outside so can't speak for the inside ambiance but it was great getting some vitamin D in before winter kicks in.

Zaftig's catered our son's Bar Mitzvah in June and they did an amazing job. They were flexible,…read moresuper easy to work with, the service was great and the food was delicious. We were pretty stressed about the whole thing and they really made it easy, I can't recommend them highly enough.

I stop here whenever i get to Boston to visit my daughter. The matzo ball soup is delish & deli…read moresandwiches yummy as any other good deli i've visited! And they always seem to be stocked with the celery soda that is tough to get on the west coast. Go early especially on weekend when there always seems to be a line. Can't wait to get back here soon.

When planning our trip to Boston, I looked for a diner like place for breakfast and found this…read morespot. I thought it was a bit odd that they were taking reservations but did it anyway in case it was crazy. I'm very glad I did because even with a reservation before 9am some people were waiting outside for a table! We got seated right away with our reservation which I was very happy to have made. The place is very cool inside with interesting decor to look at. One of the reason I picked this restaurant is that they have gluten free options. It was great to be able to have a regular breakfast like anyone else. I had pancakes with potatoes, eggs and sausage. The sausage was pretty nice. The rest of my group liked their food too and the ambiance. Good spot but if you can, get a reservation!

A great brunch location! They have a wide-variety of options on the menu ranging. They have many…read moredifferent options for breakfast classics like pancakes, waffles, toasts (obviously!), breakfast burritos and sandwiches, omelettes, scrambles, and egg dishes. They have traditional versions and also a lot of fun styles with seasonal flavors, wild combos. They also have more than just breakfast with plenty of lunch or dinner options with burgers, sandwiches, salad and bowls. There is something for everyone here whether you have food allergies, are a picky eater, or down for an adventure to try something new. Everything is pretty customizable so you really can't go wrong. For those with food allergies, they have plenty of vegan and gluten free options. Some of my favorite staples are the avocado toast, the vegan scramble, the vegan breakfast burrito, or the vegan pancakes (they are gluten free too)! I like to try to make a reservation online in advance because it gets busy. You have to make the reservation on the day of so the availability can be limited depending on what might be going on but it is still worthwhile. You can also join the waitlist online if you can't make a reservation in advance which might help save a little time too. If you don't want to dine in, you can always order online for pick-up or delivery from their website as well. Staff has always been kind and helpful, especially when it comes to recommendations for what to try if you want to branch out or just get inspired. The Friendly Toast is a unique place to go. If you are inside, it feels like a diner and is pretty laidback. They have their own sense of style which adds to their character and charm. When the weather is nice, I like the outdoor seating they have.