We've visited the restaurant for brunch on a Sunday at noon and had a good number of tables available. This restaurant is located in the heart of Boston in Backbay and is conveniently close to Copley Place and Prudential. PROS: - Good selection of brunch choices at a very decent price (average at $10-$14 a dish) - Historic ambiance with window seatings that open up. - Food was delish - the avocado toast was perfect and the french toast with the blueberry compote was great. - Full drink menu to choose from (mimosas, coffees, beers, etc) CONS: - Parking is tough if you're driving to dine here and they do not offer parking validation. - Service was a bit slow as the waitstaff only refilled water once when we are already done with our meal and was ready for the check. Overall, I would have to rate this place a 3.5/5. read more

Brownstone - Pulled Pork Benny - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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we used to love going to Brownstone for a casual environment and good food. Had the most disappointing experience sitting at the bar, bartender could not care less, absolutely terrible service. Tried to pay the bill, she took the card, hit the bathroom and went in the back to talk for 10 minutes and had to follow up with another waitress to pay the bill. Hoping they get back to the good old days soon! read more

Came here with my girls for a quick bite while we waited for others to arrive in Boston. It was mid day on a Friday so it was fairly easy to get seats. Our waitress was very attentive and also gave great suggestions for food to order. I ended up getting the chicken sandwich which was crispy just as I prefer it . The menu stated that it came with a specific sauce and it didn't, but thankfully adding some ketchup was enough to fix that because it wasn't that flavorful without a sauce. The fries were very very good and almost the highlight of the meal. My friends were also satisfied with their meals and we all enjoyed the bottle of rose that we ordered. read more

Brownstone - Chicken Sammy - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Adorable spot. Great atmosphere for Sunday brunch. The Bloody Mary was fantastic. The crab cake Benedict was amazing. Everyone else was very pleased with their meals as well. The service was very nice and super quick ! Will definitely be back !! read more

Service and food was great! We got the fried chicken and risotto. The place is cute and clean! read more

Brownstone - Risotto - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Weekday brunch places are not the easiest to come by, but I am so glad to have stumbled across Brownstone on my search--it's especially perfect for a group of weary tourists who just flew into Boston on an ungodly early flight. We were pleasantly greeted by a little flag exclaiming brunch, and the space was elegant and relaxing with large open windows (it basically felt like patio dining, without the wind blowing all your stuff away) (also great natural lighting for food pictures). The menu has a fantastic selection of brunch entrees, essentially all of which are foodie-minded. Even the simple breakfast sando turned out to be quite fancy. There were so many intruiging options, and I couldn't decide among the indulgent F.C.C.F.T. (fried chicken, crunchy french toast, bacon, warm maple syrup), the adventurous duck and sweet potato hash, and the unique aglio olio (spaghetti, sunny eggs, garlic butter sauce, basil, shaved parm). But when in Boston, I couldn't say no to the crab cake Benny, and it was definitely one of the highlights of my entire trip. The crab cakes were thick and generous with crab meat, coated with a thin crispy exterior. The runny eggs tied everything together, and the potatoes were deliciously seasoned and lightly fried. The server was nice and was able to split our bill to 6 separate checks. Also, brownie points that this was walking distance to the Boston Public Library and other touristy highlights nearby. read more

Brownstone - Close-up of the Benedict - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Well, just came for brunch and I'm never coming back even though the food and cocktails were great. Bartender kept calling me "dear," and as a new Englander I really hate when people use pet names when they don't know me. I left it alone for a bit, but then he called me "babe" and I finally needed to speak up. I told him that wasn't okay, and he didn't apologize or anything he just completely gave me the silent treatment for the rest of my time there. This was behavior that I thought was important to bring to the manager's attention. She made excuses and all I got was a "sorry you feel that way." Never going back. If you like good service maybe go somewhere else. read more

We had brunch after run. I had crabcake benedict. It came with potato. It was tasty. This part was 4 stars. We also had coffee. They refilled coffee for people but before me the pot got empty and the waiter said he would come back, but he didn't. Then he brought check. That's why minus 1 star. read more

We had a big party and they were very accommodating waiting for everyone to arrive! I ordered the french toast croque monsieur and it was amazing! Definitely would recommend for brunch choices. read more

Brownstone - Croque monsieur - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Brownstone is a bar. A rather loud bar. A rather popular loud bar. Not the spot for a quiet tête-à-tête, but for a rousing after work drink and snack - sure! They set actual "Reserved" signs on tables here. Fortunately, one was by me, as the hostess circled over to check on me after situating the twosome at this table, then went to send a waiter on over when she discovered that none had yet stopped by. The DUCK SAMMY $13 duck confit, brie, bartlett pears, cherry preserves, baby arugula arrived on a grilled focaccia. It could do with a heftier portion of the jam as I like a burst of sweet with my savory, but there was plenty of duck! It just needed to be spread out a tad more. It arrived with a nice mound of truffle fries. Apple Crisp with Richardson's vanilla ice cream $8 capped my evening. It was well flavored and I enjoyed it despite the lack of crunch in the topping. I can't believe I ate the whole thing, though it probably helped that I had limited myself to just over half the sandwich to leave room for the sweet. Be careful though, as they seem to bake the crisp directly in the bowl. Yet the ice cream stayed solid to the last bite - amazing! While service wasn't exactly on the ball, as it lagged a bit here and there, which can be forgiven given the busy setting, I appreciated the responsiveness and care exuded by the staffers of Brownstone as a team. read more

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Solid average brunch spot when The Friendly Toast overflows. Came on a weekday for brunch and there were plenty of seats. Service was fast and friendly and this place is a very good alternative to other brunch spots in the area. 1. Pulled pork benny - Delicious and plenty of food! It even comes with mac and cheese which was a nice change up Overall, I'll come back for brunch if there's no other options available read more

It was a Friday night and we were online looking for a place where we could get a reservation for 5 for Saturday brunch the next morning...and Brownstone was available, so we went for it. Overall, it was a solid brunch. Here is what stood out: - Nice casual atmosphere...almost bar-like with tables and booths. We sat at a front table, which was ok except for the continual draft from the opening of the door. - Interesting and fairly broad brunch menu on the weekends. Two of us ordered the F.C.C.F.T., which is fried chicken and crunchy french toast strips. The chicken was boneless dark meat, not really lightly breaded but not heavy either. When it arrived at the table, it looked like the portion might be too small but it wasn't...and the taste was awesome! - My wife had the Eggs Sammy, and loved it...and she said that the potatoes were great. Our friend had an omelet, and my son had the combo. Frankly, they both said their food was good, but neither dish looked very appetizing or unique to me. - The coffee was ok, nothing special. - Service was fairly average...for example, water glasses sat empty for a while before the waiter noticed and refilled them. It took quite a while for our food to come too. - Cost was what you would expect for the area. Bottom line: Good weekend brunch...maybe not a place I'd go back to right away, but not a dud either. You won't go wrong there. read more

Brownstone - Chicken and Waffles...looks small but is very filling - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

As a Back Bay transplant, I have been frequenting Brownstone for almost a decade, and have noticed a nosedive decline over the last couple months. The quality of food, service, cocktails, and management has taken a turn for the absolute worse, and no longer bares any resemblance to the warm and hospitable atmosphere I've become accustomed to. A year ago, I would be greeted immediately by the personable, and always professional Michaela (General Manager) who always took an interest in her guests and their comfortability, and receive outstanding service from the bar staff, who took a keen interest in my day and catered to ever need I had, or even needs I weren't even aware of that I had (Powerade is a major hangover cure- thanks Alex!) The waitstaff would even take notice of the frequency of our visits, and come over toward the bar and get to know us and our names, and it all just felt like being part of a happy family. More recently, I've (not) been greeted by the new, never-smiling general manager (Jeff), who clearly has learned nothing of hospitality, nor tact in his 40+ years of life, and clearly has no interest in getting to know his guests. I've been served by waitstaff that is relatively clueless (except when my girls Carmen and Ronna are there- shoutout to you rockstars!) in an atmosphere that is not friendly, fun, nor welcoming. The food quality has been incredibly inconsistent and lacking: it is no longer the guaranteed good meal it was once upon a time. (As someone who does not like to complain or send food back, it was unnerving getting suddenly spicy homefries and improperly cooked eggs three times in four visits.) The decline is very apparent, given the bar and restaurant are significantly more and more empty every time I've visited in the last two months. The friendly faces that have always made my experiences amazing are nowhere to be found, and the replacements are quite subpar. If they (Alex, Ronna, Carmen- where are you guys?!) no longer work there, i can only imagine they jumped off this sinking ship, just as I and my friends plan to do. I have gladly been taking my business elsewhere in the neighborhood (Friendly Toast and Salty Pig, namely) and have even partaken in conversations with *perfect strangers* about the incredibly palpable decline in your business. For your sake, I do hope you figure out how to address the disconnect that has been growing between you and your guests. However, I'd like to thank you for helping me discover Salty Pig (Jill and Angela are the absolute best!!!) and a new brunch spot: now it makes sense why I have an hour wait at Friendly Toast, while Brownstone had 6 open tables available on a Sunday brunch. Best of luck in your endeavors righting the ship. read more

The PERFECT hangover cure: their brunch is pristine. Whether it's the aglio olio or the monte cristo your stomach will thank you!

2 stars for the food and zip for service. Took over an hour to get brunch and a coffee, when we finally got the check (didn't look at it at first) and paid the bill came back at $50 for 2 coffees and 2 egg plates, the receipt itself was not included. After getting someone's attention they said the manager would be right on it, 10 minutes and a few apologies later the hostess drops off a correct check with no service recovery, visit from the manager, etc. Had to leave and run back to work after the extra-long lunch so didn't get to confront the manager about the lack of concern about overcharging people who might not pay more attention to what they're paying for but this is the kind of thing that'll make me never go to a place again. Trust matters. read more

Made my 2 year old daughter cry. Shocking experience where the waiter mean, rude and unapologetic in aggressively and abruptly taking way simple sugar packets she was happily playing with. I called the GM over to explain and she has but a few words to say, none of which were an apology. This is not the first time we had a similar experience to the first of this extreme. I hope this review serves as a wake up call for Brownstone. read more

Had brunch here for the first time the other day and the food was great! My friend got french toast and added some fruit which she enjoyed, and I got a short stack of pancakes. The pancakes had a lemon-ish flavor which was surprising but overall pleasant. They were a little dry as they cooled but I definitely continued to eat them. We made a reservation on a Sunday afternoon which was the right move, since people were in and out the whole time. The only downfall is that the service was pretty slow at each step along the way, initial ordering, bringing our food out, getting the check. Would definitely go back though! read more

Brownstone is located conveniently right outside of Back Bay Station, so no driving necessary. Beautiful decor, and excellent service. Food and drinks are both very well done. It is definitely one of the best restaurant to check out in Back Bay. read more

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Brownstone is a great (and very underrated ) brunch in Boston. We went around noon on Sunday, and it was not very crowded. We waited about 20 minutes for our table, but got a good spot right by the open windows. The food here is plentiful, tasty, and inexpensive considering it's pricier South End neighbors. I have also been for Happy Hour, which is a little slower, and not great for accommodating groups. Definitely a better place to go for a sit down dinner or brunch. read more

Brownstone - Pulled pork Benny and crispy fried French toast - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

French toast sticks were excellent- like the best probably because they were deep fried. Ordered the fried chicken and French toast as well as the duck hash and Benedict -- duck hash was perfectly salted with a touch of sweetness from the sweet potatoes. Drinks ranked average. Enjoyed the blueberry vodka mint- special. Waitstaff very friendly at first- once shifts started to change it was hard to get service. read more

Brownstone - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We came twice during our weekend in Boston, it was that good. Solid breakfast offerings & pricing. Cute, warm vibe inside and we had great service both trips. Breakfast potatoes were amazing! Breakfast cocktails were a good value, too. Worth a pop in! read more

This place is sooo good and the music and people are awesome. Ansley was amazing!! I am from Long Island NY, I have high expectations sometimes but this place met it. After coming to Boston multiple times and never liking the food, this place was so good, it's a must. read more

Amazing brunch spot, been here at least 4 times now and it does not disappoint. My favorite so far has been the pulled pork hash, it's to die for!! Also shoutout to our favorite waiter Alex, he is so much fun and we always request him :) read more

Pretty good service. I had the special: scallops and risotto. I enjoyed the dish but thought it was served rather lukewarm. My buddy got the Peking duck and did not enjoy his dish as much as I did mine. read more

Brownstone - Scallops and risotto - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Definitely have frequented and recommended this place because they brunch errday. And how can you not love that?! Their brunch menu covers all your needs from sweet and savory to just one or the other. I have had the pulled pork benny and crabcake benedict. Both were superb. The pulled pork benny has their mac 'n cheese sauce on it which is absolutely divine. It's pretty heavy so just beware. The crabcake benedict was delicious! The crabcake itself wasn't breaded heavily, the crab was present and they poached the eggs to perfection. I'm a sucker for benedicts, that is for sure. My friends loved their selections as well, one had the breakfast sammy and the other had chicken and waffles. The coffee is fresh, the bloody marys are pretty legit, and service is always friendly. Food service is quick too which is always nice when it's your first meal of the day...at 11am. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed! read more

Nice little local bar for brunch. Motown music in the background. Typical breakfast menu for brunch. I had the burger and eggs. Very tasty and not too filling. Street parking is available. read more

Brownstone - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Came here for the famous duck and sweet potato hash! Brunch on a friday (because why not?) and it was pretty nice! The atmosphere is chill and it's moderately busy on a Friday (don't people work anymore?! Jk, guess I'm being a hypocrite there hahaha) this dish is on a list I found about must eat foods in Boston so I was pretty excited for it! In the end, it was alright. Maybe I was unlucky but my duck was pretty dry and not the succulent delicious duck im used to. The sweet potato was good but in the end, the dish was really dry with the potatoes and duck and I wished there was some fat or something to help moisten it up or make it just a little extra tasty. Nonetheless, I ate the whole thing! I would give t another try here, maybe try something different the next time I came but in the end, this place was just a little overrated. But my friend loved it! She got some pasta dish and she's a huge fan and comes all the time so it must be worth something :) read more

This place was recommended to me by a friend so I stopped in for brunch today. I had the granola and yogurt to start then the FCCFT with a sunshine (closest thing to a mimosa on the menu) the food was surprisingly good, I had some doubts from the appearance. The place looks kind of old, on the inside there were a few holes in the ceiling but overall the vibe was great. The Sunshine drink wasn't what I hoped it would be but still a good drink, I was just looking for a mimosa. Our service was reasonable and the waiter was very polite, I would differently recommend stopping by for brunch. read more

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I was here last night for dinner. When I came in I saw that the restaurant was pretty much empty and there was a please wait to he seated sign so I waited. It took good while for someone to notice me but that's alright. I ordered the aglio olio and my friend ordered the chicken dinner. We also got two tequila cocktails. When my order came I immediately noticed a hair on my plate. No big deal... I pick up a piece of bread from the plate and I see another hair encrusted in the bread...kind of put off by this but not enough to get me to send the dish back since I was starving. As I continued with the meal I found a third hair! I ate the meal since hair doesn't really pose much of a food borne threat but it is still a bit off putting. I finished most of the meal and I notified the waitress when she finally came to check on us. Thankfully, she handled the situation well and took my meal off our tab, which is very much appreciated! The aglio olio was good aside from the hairs, but I did find that towards the end of my dish, the oil accumulated on the bottom so I did not want to eat the rest. I had a bite of my friends chicken and it was amazing. Our cocktails were also extremely tasty and strong! Customer service can definitely be improved here. It was definitely a quiet Saturday night there so I would have liked to have been check up on more than once during the dinner and greeted in the way out... read more

Brownstone - Aglio olio... - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My friend and I decided to do our brunch meet up and gift-swap here this past Saturday. I was really excited to check Brownstone out because I always found its exterior to be super cute. Plus, their brunch options seemed delicious! We were promptly seated since I had made a reservation a few days before. It was 1:30 PM and quite packed! Brownstone is both a restaurant and a bar, so it was pretty loud in there. My friend and I had to raise our voices just to have a conversation. The interior of the restaurant was adorable. There were Christmas lights strung along the windowsills and walls. Despite having a bit of natural lighting from the windows, the restaurant was quite dark and dingy. Brownstone's brunch menu offered a variety of dishes so it was hard to choose! I decided to give the Croque Monsieur (french toast with black forest ham and cheese with a side of maple syrup and home fries) a try. My friend had the duck and sweet potato hash dish. The Croque Monsieur was a mix of savory and sweet. I didn't think the combination of ham and cheese on sweet french toast would actually work, taste buds-wise, but it did! The ham wasn't soggy- it had the right consistency and held up just right alongside the french toast. The french toast was a bit too moist for my liking, however, but it was enjoyable for the most part. I liked the powdered sugar on the french toast, too. The home fries tasted a little smoky but very good nonetheless. My friend liked her duck and sweet potato hash dish but found the sweet potato to be a bit tiring after awhile. Our waiter was very nice and attentive during our time there. The noise level and the lighting were the only things I found to be distracting. read more

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Came here for drinks and dinner after a volunteering event and questioned a few times if the servers forgot about us even though we were in the middle of the restaurant. Tables sat after us had drinks before we had our drink orders taken. I had the golden ginger to drink which tasted, shockingly, of nothing. No whisky and no ginger. It tasted like bad water. The veggie burger was good and I could see the vegetables in it -- to a non veggie burger eating person that probably sounds weird but trust me it's good to be able to see what you're eating. The fries were good as well, but, again, with the service, we had to ask multiple times for ketchup. read more

I work right by Brownstone and for a long time just dismissed it as an average Boston sports bar spot for after-work drinks (especially given it's the same restaurant group as Coogan's). I didn't realize what a quality place it was until I had some visitors in town who needed an easy brunch for their group which included three highly picky ten-year olds. Adults and kids alike were extremely happy with their meals. I'm an FCCFT evangelist (although I prefer the old preparation, pictured) and was pleasantly surprised by the kids mac and cheese (which I don't think is actually a menu item, just a smaller version of their regular M&C--they were extremely accomodating). My guests enjoyed it so much that they came back the next day for lunch! Since that meal, I've started frequenting Brownstone for bar bites and drinks. My team at work often holds small events here and the wait staff has been helpful in setting aside areas for us, despite the fact that we aren't technically a private party. The truffle fries, deviled eggs, and gianni flatbread (fig jam, pear & goat cheese) are particular standouts. So the next time you're in Back Bay looking for tasty, reasonable bar food with coworkers, do yourself a favor and don't overlook Brownstone as your typical sports bar! read more

Brownstone - The old preparation of the FCCFT--more bang for your buck! - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

You might have to wait 20+ mins for brunch, but they have some very fun cocktails and hangover themed drinks. Great brunch spot read more

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We arrived around 2:00 PM and I had the duck sweet potato hash. Tasty and very satisfying, really filling. Hubby had the poke rice bowl, which he really enjoyed too. read more

Brownstone - Duck sweet potato hash! I feel so full now. Must have eaten at least 1,000 calories! Nice dish & great lunch service. - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came for brunch on a Saturday. We had a reservation for 8 people at 10:30 and they were able to sit us early. The food seemed like it took a little while to come out but nothing terrible. I had a cold brew, the pulled pork Benny, and shared a side of bacon with a friend. The cold brew was good but I felt it was a little pricey at $6. The pulled pork Benny was delicious- the Mac and cheese sauce on it was excellent and I wish I had more of it! It came with breakfast potatoes which I really enjoyed as well. The bacon was good but also a little pricey- $6 and it came with 4 strips of bacon. A friend got the duck hash and that looked excellent as well. Overall a good experience. read more

Brownstone - Pulled Pork Benny - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Forgot to review for when I went. Definitely a must in Boston for brunch. Located in Copley Square. The ambiance is so beautiful, felt homey but a very fancy homey but not so bougie,ha. Okay, next time I'll make sure to get pics They offer bottle services like the club (haha kidding). We ordered mimosas with champagne instead before our meals I got the "F.C.C.F.T" in other words; Chicken and French-toast sticks. And oooomg, that chicken was so juicy and tasteful.. melt in your mouth type of chicken. Just to let you know, it's dark meat and no they can't do white meat, but what's the big deal. French toast sticks were just a tad bit browner than I would like but it was still pretty good. Had a bite of the crab Benedict.. LEGIT read more

Brownstone - French toast and chicken - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Waitress wasn't very friendly and not attentive. We never got more water and asked for wheat bread and got rye. Was basically over half way through the meal before she came back so I could get the correct toast. We also got an omelette which was decent hard to mess that up. Wish places carried franks hot sauce. read more

Brownstone - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came here on a friday spontaneous res - wasn't sure given the reviews but I thought drinks and food were fine. They had a nice cocktail selection as well as food. The fried chicken was a bit flavorless but buffalo brussel sprouts were great and the sirloin steak is a great value as well. The service was a bit slow that night, other than that great spot for back bay. read more

Okay brunch place located near Copley Square (about a 5 minute walk). There is limited street parking but garages are close by. The garage next to it offers parking for one hour for $11. And then it jumps to $20 for one to two hours. The place has a nice cozy atmosphere. It seems more neighborhood bar than restaurant. We were greeted and seated in one of the booths. Coffee was piping hot and good. For brunch I decided on the croque monsieur, which is not the typical French version with grilled bread and béchamel. Brownstone's version is made with french toast and came with a side of syrup. Nice try but no cigar. My partner had the eggs benedict. He said it was good but different from his usual place. I likely would not be back. It was good but not stellar. I would only be willing to pay for parking if it his was truly an exceptional place with innovative brunch options. This is a decent neighborhood place for those who live close by. Glad I got out of there within an hour (they do not validate parking)! read more

Brownstone - Croque Monsieur - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My friend mentioned getting some ice cream during our afternoon shopping excursion. Ice cream turned to talk of chips and salsa which led us to think of Prairie Star. We made our way to find that Prairie Star is no longer and has been replaced by Brownstone. I took a look at the menu and saw lobster mac n' cheese. It was time for 2nd lunch. We settled on splitting sliders and the lobster mac n' cheese. The sliders have potential but need some work. The meat to bread ratio was pathetic and the meat was a little too well done for my taste. The toasted bread was really good and whatever the special sauce was tangy and tasty. The mac n' cheese was excellent - creamy, well-seasoned and chock full of lobster. I may have to come back just for this on my next visit home. read more

Brownstone - Lobster Mac 'n Cheese - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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