Just popped in to this place recently with a few friends. Wicked neighborhood joint; simple decor, courteous service, basic classic menu. A few people came in after us and ordered without even having to look at the menu, that's how you know the dive you just walked in to is going to be good. Their menu is very basic but the food is tasty and they make it the way you want without eye-rolling or complaint (my friend asked for crispy homefries and they took extra time to make them that way), it is also the kind of food that is the perfect hangover cure. I got a breakfast sandwich with egg and cheese on a bagel and a small tomato juice for $4.75! Food is good and cheap, the place is clean, and the staff is courteous; what more would you want from a local diner/dive! read more

Most of what people have said about the Brighton Cafe is true. The food is cheap, delicious and they give you large servings. Before diving into the fine details of this little gem of a diner, I want to counter what people have mentioned in regards to "bad service". We've had no issue with service - whether it be arriving or waiting for our check. You just need to know what to do! You seated yourself and received menus. Ready to order? Close your menu(s) and stack them. Ready for your check? To expedite the receiving of your bill, stack your plates. Although I'm sure these Brighton Cafe "rules" are just observations are mine, lets continue on to the good part. Their food! Their iced coffee really is a dessert. It has enough sugar and cream to satisfy even my sweet tooth and is rather inexpensive. All of their meals come with large portions. Whether it be their awesome french toast, the home fries or french fries, you'll want to share with your friends. The cheeseburger club is a favorite of mine when I'm not in the mood for breakfast, though no pickles in sight makes me sad! The Brighton Cafe DOES close at 4:00 PM. I would love it if they extended their hours, though I can understand the cut-off. Later in the afternoon, there's hardly anyone there when we go. read more

I walked in and was seated but never waited on. After waiting 25 minutes after being seated, no one checked on us or got us a water at the least. We left. We tried to catch the waiters attention without any luck. The menu looked awesome, but the wait staff seamed really unorganized. Customers that just walked in and were just seated were being waited on way before us. Maybe I just caught them on a bad day. I will try this place again at some point and update this review. read more

I am a big fan of this place. If you like greasy spoon type diners, this is your place in the brighton/brookline area. The corned beef hash is amazing, order it extra crispy with the eggs and toast. The breakfast sandwiches are really good and you can get them on croissant, different kinds of bagel, english muffins, or bread. My husband and I can each eat a huge breakfast there for only $10 total for both of us (tax and tip included). I would highly recommended it. The food is good, the price is low, and the staff are very friendly. The perfect Boston diner situation. read more

This place is one of my favorite breakfast spots in Boston. Even living in Somerville now I'll make the trek to Brighton for a breakfast sandwich and iced coffee every once in a while. The service is great, the food is a great value and super tasty, impossible to complain. read more

Generally fast and friendly for me, with an iced coffee large enough that it isn't gone before I'm out the door. The selling point is it's size; New England Coffee is neither best nor worst. The selling point of this establishment on the whole is the diner feel without any overtly stylized attitude about itself. As such, it's a great place to get no-frills brunch with friends who can conversate. Big fan of the old fashioned donut, as well. So tempted to give 5 stars but nothing is actually outstanding about Brighton Cafe, they just do a solid brunch without pretense. So, a very fond 4 stars. read more

Honestly really good for what it is. Not the most beautiful building or menu... but always good, reasonably priced, and has good coffee. Don't go here expecting a 5 star brunch, but go here expecting a diner style breakfast/ lunch. read more

the food here is kind of mediocre, but its sooo dirt cheap that when you're hungover, who cares!! friendly service too :) read more

An old fashioned greasy spoon! Brighton Cafe turns into Hangover Hideout on Saturdays and Sundays around 11AM. The food is ridiculously cheap and decent quality. Fast service and friendly servers. Here's the best recipe for curing a hangover: 1 large iced coffee with milk and sugar 1 apple/grape juice 1 spinach and swiss cheese omelette with home fries 1/2 corn muffin with butter you can run a marathon (or at least make it to your car) after a breakfast like that! read more

It's OK good--the eggs are so-so, and they're inflexible about substituting on combos. It is what it is, and breakfast food does help cure a hangover. Their omelets aren't really omelets though; the ingredients are mixed in with the egg instead of being inside the pouch of the egg. The Vietnamese family that runs the joint could be friendlier. I wish they'd have corned beef hash!!! And I always have to ask for less sugar and cream in my iced coffee..... It's an OK breakfast restaurant, but the prices are pretty good. read more

Cozy environment, friendly staff, good food, great price. Usually not busy during the weekdays. Saturday and Sunday morning can be busy so plan ahead read more

The food tastes good for the price (talking 4 dollars for 3 eggs, homefries, and toast). That's about the best thing I can say about this place. The service is seriously lacking. Other reviews mention "friendly" servers which has been the opposite of my experience. The last two times I went, they haven't said a word more to me than "Can I take your order?" My girlfriend and I were standing at the entrance feeling like idiots not knowing if it was a self-seating place or not. I understand that they can be busy, but a "Good morning, seat yourself" could go a long way. Ultimately, I plan on coming back here since it's so cheap and so close to my home, but I won't be happy about it. read more

Got the French toast, pancake, eggs, homefries and beef hash combo with some coffee this morning. It was delicious!!! and everything came out super fast. Waitstaffs were friendly and efficient. It's nothing fancy but this is my go-to for a yummy greasy breakfast food fast. read more

This place was open during Hurricane Sandy and Blizzard Nemo. The food is not out of this world, but it settles very well in your tummy. Also, you won't pay more than $7 for an omelet with plenty of fixings. The staff is nice and the food comes out quick. They serve New England coffee, which is delicious. The atmosphere is very diner like and clean! If you live in the area and require the perfect hangover breakfast, this is the place for you; you sloppy drunk, you! read more

I'm not so sure where to start on this one. Brighton Cafe's menu has enough Greek items to lead me to believe that it was started by Greeks, but is for some reason now run by Asians. That's just a fact, not a judgement. My annoyance with their staff relates to the fact, however, that they don't seem to understand substitutions or extras. My husband likes his toast with melted cheese, a croque madame if you will. He's asked for it three times there (from the same server) and every time ends up with something different - a grilled cheese sandwich, cream cheese on toast, then finally, the right thing. Let's see if they remember. Like Katherine H., I dig the greek omelet (and pretty much only order that - do NOT get the pancakes, they taste frozen). And I get an iced coffee here (large is $2.00!!) at least three days a week. It's iced coffee, but there's something else in there - syrup maybe? I wish I had one right now. read more

I come down to Boston to drive Uber and every time I pass this cafe I make sure I stop in..food is always fresh, great tasting and priced perfectly. read more

"Dive diner" best describes this place...I mean, if you're REALLY hungry, then sure, stop in for a bite, you need to eat--but if you can wait, I suggest getting on Yelp and finding a better spot. I'm giving Brighton Cafe 3 stars because their croissant breakfast sandwich was good. Unfortunately, nothing else was. I was super hungry! I knew a sandwich wasn't going to cut it so I got a scrambled egg w/cheese and some homefries...OMG, you want to talk about bland!!! There was no seasoning in the food, I mean, not even salt. Honestly, I don't even know how food could taste so bland...I at least expected some of the seasoning from the previously cooked food to rub off. Nothing...its as if it was cooked on a brand new skillet. This is what I'd expect prison food to taste like. read more

This is a no-frills cafe. Simple explains everything. However, the prices are the best you'll find around the area. Get a good BLT with a side of chips for under 4 bucks! The bacon was really good and there aren't many places that can fill you up for the price. The iced coffee is also great at $2.50. I prefer just cream in my coffee - but if you're not big on tons of sugar just make sure to order it the way you want (as my father found out). If you're a bit more sophisticated, you probably won't like this place. The bathroom is only accessible through the edge of the kitchen hallway (which is different) and everything is bare bones. read more

We were in Boston on vacation (from Arizona) when some friends recommended the place. The food was ok, I wish they had salsa for my eggs or at least hot sauce. I asked for hot sauce (tapatio, huichol, or like valentina) and got ketchup and buffalo wing sauce. :/ The service was a little slow and the waitress never came to refill my water. I did like the price (cheaper than average Boston) I didn't try my partners food but it did look pretty tasty and one of the guys in our party had a good looking croissant. I could have just ordered the wrong thing. read more

I used to go here regularly with my roommates the summer after my junior year of college. It is a great place to go on a weekend morning/ early afternoon when you are hung over and just want to hash over the events of the previous night while enjoying some standard, inexpensive diner food. The staples - coffee, pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, french toast, etc., are all good without surpassing your expectations. They also serve burgers and the like, but I always stuck with breakfast-y options. One of my former roommates swears by their cheeseburger club; it was her favorite post-hookup food. The service is decently fast and friendly, and seems to be a family- run business. There is some great abstract-floral art that always struck my crew as strangely resembling genitalia and related matters. The only major downside is that I'm pretty sure they close at 4 pm - but then again, hopefully people don't still need hangover food that late in the afternoon. read more

Affordable and yummy. And quick, as long as you go up to the counter and pay your check. If you wait, you'll be waiting a while. I get 2 eggs over-medium, and they are cooked over medium, which is pretty rare. Most places will cook over medium eggs too much or too little. Brighton Cafe gets it JUST right. Their hash browns are also JUST right. I have had trouble finding decent hash browns in Allston, but these are fabulous. I can usually eat only half of them because they are so filling. The half-assed decor gets points because it reminds me of the Grecian, sans some of the character. Staff is friendly and doesn't bother you too much. And if you get a cappucino, they sprinkle cinnamon on top. I love that. read more

I got a great breakfast special. It was 2 eggs, the sausage wasn't very good I would give 4 stars out of 5. The sliced turkey was great. The most I like homemade potatoes. Great cooked and the best part they don't put too much seasoning so u can add up on your taste. And everything about $7 which I think is pretty good for a dissent size meal. And the ice-coffee very good. read more

Go-to breakfast place after a night out! It's quick, cheap, and no-nonsense. The egg specials are awesome (any amount of eggs cooked however you want with home fries, meat, and buttered toast). I love the corned beef the hash as well because they make it nice and crispy. I also really dig the banana pancakes when I need something sweet. read more

The Brighton Cafe is the ultimate "greasy spoon" in the area for breakfast. It won't make you cast away all the other breakfast meals you've ever had in your life, but it will certainly be a friend for all sorts of mornings - if hangovers had enemies, this place would top their list. The fare is the basics. Eggs, Breakfast Meats, French Toast, and pancakes. There's nothing on the menu that should confuse anyone unless they've lived in a cave their entire life. I've eaten here quite a bit, and I've never had anything that was bad - but on that note I've never had anything that was earth-shatteringly good either. Actually, scratch that last statement. The Iced Coffee is unreal, and this is coming from someone who drinks his coffee straight black. I rarely purchase Iced Coffee, because doing so means I have to get cream and sugar in it, and usually most places muck it up and make it saccharine to the point I feel like I'm drinking candy. The Iced Coffee from the Brighton Cafe is strange because it IS pretty freakin' sweet, but there's something about it that makes it less of an iced coffee and more of a special morning treat. I can't explain it, but give it a whirl. Service is good, but if you get the check, go pay for it at the take-out area. If you sit at your table expecting for a waiter or waitress to retrieve it, you'll be waiting until seasons change. If you go to the Brighton Cafe expecting a gourmet breakfast, you'll be pissed off all day. Go expecting it for what it is, an extremely casual diner that does the no-frills eating pretty damn well. read more

I've decided to make this place the first place I review on Yelp because I love it!!! I live around the corner and come to this place at least once a week for breakfast, at least for takeout before work. I've called ahead and my food has been ready in under 10 minutes each time. Perfect if you want a delicious breakfast before catching the T or the 65 bus. About the food: 1. its good! I normally get some kind of egg dish or pancakes, but I've had friends get their lunch specials and they have all had pleasant experiences. **also, to jump on the bandwagon, the Iced coffee is delicious. 2. Its cheap!! You can easily eat here for under $10 a person. My meals usually range from $5-7. 3. Its simple. Don't come here expecting garnishes or fancy combos. If you get eggs, you'll get home fries and toast. Substitutions are easily welcomed. The service: I think its a family owned business, but I've had great experiences with everyone that I've met there. They can get busy on the weekends, but they are kind people who are always grateful you came. The only reason I did not give this place 5 stars is because it does not have that much atmosphere. It could use a little updating inside, but other than that, I really enjoy it here. Give it a chance I say! read more

do not get the corned beef hash. tastes like ammonia. disgusting. also do not use their bathroom. i walked in and it was so disgusting i turned right back around. this place has gone down hill. and for the amount they charge. do go here. read more

Great menu that is ever changing. Staff is knowledgeable in the menu and everything so far has been amazing. I recommend the soft shell crab sandwich (if still on the menu) for brunch. The flavor is amazing. Great brunch spot that is not utilized nearly as much as it should. Let me know what you think ! read more

I would have given this place 5 stars if it did two things differently. 1. Refilled the coffee a little faster 2. Carried Frank's red hot (all they had was tabasco) However, it was great and I agree with other posters on value and greasy spooness. I went to this place hungover as shit the other day and it was great. It was like 2 pm and I couldnt decide if I wanted lunch or breakfast, so I went with both. I got the egg, ham and cheese sandwich and grilled cheese w/ bacon and some fries. The bacon in the grilled cheese was so crispy. The place cured my hangover and hunger. read more

Love this place. It is steps from my apartment and the food is great. Prices are very reasonable, and they make a great cup of coffee! It is very clean and the staff is friendly. It can get a little busy and sometimes the staff doesn't get to you very fast while you are waiting to pay, but to me, I don't mind that at all (time to digest!). I will definitely be popping in here more often. It is a great spot for a quick and delicious bite to eat! read more

This place is 60 feet from where I live. I used to go there all the time for their egg and beacon sandwich until I couldn't eat it anymore. I haven't been there in a while. This diner is nothing special but it's very, very inexpensive - perfect for the student population from Brighton. I give it a 3 stars because the food is nothing special but as I said before it's very cheap. On the weekends this place is pact with BU/BC kids and their coffee is good (more like Dunkin Donuts) type of coffee. If you wanna go out for brunch on the weekend and meet up with fiends somewhere local it's good but basically you get what you pay for..Also, if the transaction is less than $5 they don't accept credit cards. read more

Delicious, cheap, AND fast? Nice! Brighton Cafe is a weekend mainstay for us. Two egg plates, two coffees, and usually some sort of bacon almost never exceeds $15. Often, with the LevelUp credit, we manage to swing a Sunday breakfast for two for under $10. The employees are friendly if a bit busy, and I've never had a disappointing meal. Remember, you're at a diner, so expect fluffy pancakes and greasy potatoes, and don't expect to see the word "artisanal" anywhere on the menu. Crowds get heavy on the weekends after 10:00. You generally won't spend more than 5 minutes waiting for a table, but the service slows considerably if the place is at or above capacity. read more

Favorite place in my neighborhood. The best quality for a cheap price. Friendly waitress, tasty food, fair prices. Recommend to visit for people who's living around Brighton!!! read more

Nice casual, low-key diner with great prices and pretty good food. I had a coffee and the Irish breakfast special, and it was satisfying and tasty. The sausage was especially good, as it was a bit sweet. The waitstaff were friendly, and they were really good about refilling our coffee. read more

Brighton Cafe - Irish breakfast special. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

Love this place. Great breakfast food at unbeatable prices. The food comes out promptly and is actually pretty good. Sides of toast and homefries come standard. Perfect for dropping in for a wholesome breakfast meal. In and out in less than 20 or take your time and enjoy. read more

I'm a big fan of Brighton cafe. I've had their smoothies, frappés, iced tea and breakfast dishes and I have yet to be disappointed. The establishment is simple, and you get great food for a great price. I appreciate the simplicity, the consistency in the quality of their food, and the friendly service. Recommended for anyone looking for a yummy place for brunch with friends or solo. read more

Just moved to Brighton and soooo happy I found this gem! They have the best breakfast and it was super cheap! The eggs were great and those chocolate chip pancakes were, without a doubt, the best thing since sliced bread. Def a good spot to bring a friend for brunch if they're visiting. The service was good too, our waitress was very attentive. I'll be back! read more

Brighton Cafe - Chocolate chip pancake. YUM! It was thebomb.com - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

Considering this is in the heart of college town, they cater exactly to their clientele. Will you find the best food in Boston here? No. But will you find a solid breakfast/diner experience for prices so low that you wonder if you're actually in Boston? Yes. These guys never disappoint and I'm glad they stick to what they know and do best. Thank you Brighton Cafe for doing you. Edit: 5 stars because they do exactly what they're trying to do. No frills, just delicious and cheap. read more

It's a little old and run down, but boy does Brighton Cafe provide some great value breakfast food. The menu is quite extensive, but every one of those dishes were hearty and well-cooked. It has become sort of a haunt for those in the neighbourhood, so I would recommend you come earlier on the weekends before the brunch crowd really fills the place up! read more

Great value for breakfast food. Items were simple and properly cooked. Always love a place that serves pancakes and eggs. It's a 15 mins walk from our apartment and I'm sure it will be our to-go place for breakfast/ lunch/ brunch. Service is abit slow but can't blame the poor girl mending the front counter herself. read more

Standard greasy spoon fare, with the usual selection of hearty breakfasts (eggs with meats, pancakes, yadda yadda yadda). Decent, strong coffee. Fried lunch foods that come with a side of french fries. They're exactly average in terms of how quickly they prepare their food. The food is pretty much exactly average for your run of the mill diner. The wait times during the busy periods are a bit long and the atmosphere is a bit claustrophobic even when it isn't crowded. (Sundays, or any other time you might expect the hangover crowd to stumble in.) The prices are exceedingly affordable, even for what it is. My girlfriend and I hit this place every election morning after voting; it's that kind of joint. Where you can walk in bleary-eyed, wipe the sleep from your face, throw down a tenner and walk out ready to face the rest of the long day. read more