I bike past Cafe Mirror almost every day after work, and for the longest time I never stopped…read morebecause it always looked so unassuming that I couldn't even tell whether it was open. (Narrator: the Cafe is not open at 7pm.) I only recently learned it's owned by the same people behind Twin Donuts (requiescat in pace) and Brighton Cafe, and as someone who loves supporting local mom-and-pop spots, that made me even more curious to check it out. What finally drew me in was the sign advertising Thai tea and Vietnamese iced coffee. If I'm Popeye, Vietnamese iced coffee is my can of spinach. (Narrator: she is not Popeye.) Viet iced coffee is my jet fuel for the bike rides. I stepped in and asked if they took credit card, which they did! I never carry cash, so when the Google AI overview told me they were cash only, I was bummed. Anyway, trust but verify. The AI Overview can't be taken at face value, Today was an unbearably hot day (100F!), and I ordered a veggie omelet and an iced coffee. The staff immediately brought me ice water and even suggested I move closer to the window where it was cooler, which I really appreciated: it was a small gesture, but one that made me feel genuinely welcome. They were attentive throughout the meal too, even asking whether I wanted hot sauce and then checking if Cholula was okay instead of just dropping off whatever they had. The food was exactly what I was hoping for: a solid, satisfying diner breakfast. The veggie omelet was tasty, the home fries were good (maybe could be crispier on the outside, but they were gonna be murdered in Cholula anyway, so does it even matter?), and the toast was great even without butter. The iced coffee wasn't the most memorable coffee I've ever had, but it absolutely hit the spot during the heat wave. One thing that surprised me was how spacious it is inside. From the outside, I never would have guessed there was so much seating, and it had a quiet, relaxed atmosphere that made it easy to linger for a while. I also noticed several people coming in specifically for the Thai tea and Vietnamese iced coffee, so I'm clearly not the only fan. I'll definitely be back, especially when I need some more jet fuel. Cafe Mirror may not shout for your attention from the street, but it's a welcoming neighborhood cafe with kind people, good food, and exactly the kind of low-key charm that makes me want to support local businesses.

Hole in the wall breakfast/lunch spot in Brighton center. A reliable go to for my mom and I! The…read morechicken Caesar wrap is really good if you're leaning towards the lunch route. My mom enjoyed her combo meal. Pancakes are perfectly fluffy here. Prices are so cheap. My meal was only 11$ but it was on the expensive side compared to the other menu items. Some of the breakfast sandwiches were 5-6$. Our server was very friendly. Food came out fast. They also have donuts and muffins at the counter. Haven't tried the coffee here but want to in the future. Seems like the type of spot where you could eat in or grab a donut and coffee on your way to work. Would recommend.

I ordered the Curry Bowl with tofu and a Thai Iced Tea. Both lacked flavor, but were decent enough…read moreto have no complaints. I thought the curry was quite bland, but there was a slight vinegar flavor, most likely from the salad, that surprisingly mixed well. The tea was watered down. My main reason for the 4 stars is the vibes. The staff is friendly and the vibes are great. It's relaxing and I enjoyed listening to the jazz music while I finished my work on the side. I would come back.

I really wanted to like the tea here, but the boba wasn't cooked properly and would easily get…read morestuck in the straw. Overall, not one of the better bobas I've had. The seating area seemed nice though.

Best coffee & food in Boston I had the honor of coming into Cafe Matchai's 3rd day of opening and…read moreI'm so happy! I needed to see for myself this amazing menu that had "coming soon". I'm from out of state and was just looking for a good warm drink to relax before work. First; it's right on the corner and in front of the train & pedestrian crossing. It's beautifully decorated, windows galore to see into the outside world, which I need, beautiful furniture and inviting display to pop open a sketchbook or laptop. So I'm ordering, and let the cashier know I'm new. Mir offers this cranberry coffee for the weather, and how they're the only ones serving this drink! I'm talked in, but I want a hot drink too. He offers a hot salted caramel cappuccino. Yes. Food-I was going for a waffle, but the smell of the chicken burger was wafting, I got talked into that too. This cranberry coffee is 10/10. I'm going to tell my friends. The chicken burger. I already started texted my friends. The salted caramel cappuccino. I've sent pics in my group chats. I'm so happy to have found this place. I got to chat with Mir and staff and they have such a good vision of bringing the community together through food, drinks (coffee, chai etc), and just hanging out. If I was a local, this would be my spot! I'm here for another week, I'm going to be back to try that crispy waffle and order more cranberry coffees. This is the best food and experience I've had in Boston. Thank you!

I would come here for their matcha drinks and cozy, chill vibe. The food is not bad-- the prices…read moreare pretty reasonable for the area and give a home-cooked feeling. I got their matcha latte ($6 with oat milk +$0.5) and a few onigiri ($3-4 each). The onigiri was fresh, but as others have said, could have used a bit more filling. The matcha flavor was strong and was not drowned out by too much sugar. The cafe was not too crowded when I visited on a Saturday and there were a lot of wall outlets near the seating areas. This could be a really nice spot for studying or getting some work done.

my omurice was not bad but not great either! sauce was lacking in flavor. the ketchup rice is…read moredecent. the egg's texture was good but also lacking. overall, kinda disappointed because the establishment itself is so cute so the aesthetics are there. the presentation of the food could be better though. staff was super friendly, great service

And the award for the cutest cafe goes to.... Wonderfully…read morecurated decor. Even the bathroom is cute! Food was good, we had the shakshuka croissant and the muhamarra feta sandwich on a Turkish bagel. The shakshuka croissant is made Turkish style and that's why the eggs are almost mashed into the curry. The muhamarra was very tasty, going lighter on the feta may be a good idea otherwise it can tend to be overly salty. We also tried the meet point latte which has sahlep tea and sprinkled with rose leaves. It was good but I couldn't taste anything much different than a plain latte. The cold milky baklava was a pleasant surprise. Soaked through, it is a moist tasty delight! The only reason it's not 5 stars is because a lot of the coffee syrups and also some desserts like cakes are not made in house, which was a tad disappointing. The owners are very friendly and kind. It was the parent cafe's (Dolma) birthday and they offered everyone a piece of celebratory baklava. They're a newer cafe and I wish them the best and that they are successful!

I walked into this bakery today, what a cute place. The bakery treats that I got were absolutely…read moredelicious! I highly recommend coming here!

The food is very good, even though the menu is modest. The service is outstanding- the owners treat…read moreyou like a welcome guest in their home. I tend to go on off hours, so it's quiet and extremely relaxing. I love the ambience - cozy, a bit quirky, and welcoming, harking back to past decades. My go to place for a totally laidback late lunch

The food here feels like home cooking. They serve a variety of traditional Chinese dishes and…read morethey're prepared like how you might prepare them at home, not like the salty and oily versions you usually see in restaurants. This feels like a place you could come back to when you don't feel like cooking but want something healthier.

I really enjoyed my visit to Gen sou en! I think it's relatively popular place to hangout and go on…read moredates, etc. they don't have wi fi so I guess it's not really a study spot. I had their 10 dollar signature curry. It was a lot of food for the price. Complete with shredded chicken and served with plenty of rice! I loved it! The hojicha latte was very strong and tasted amazing. It wasn't sweetened much, so I guess you can really taste the hojicha! I think it was very skillfully made. Also tried one of their onigiri. You get the onigiri at the cashier when you order. Not sure what happened but the first person I talked to didn't give me one when I ordered. I had to go back and talk to them to get one. The braised pork and egg is quite good and almost tastes like fish roe as it's so rich and tasty. The interior is spacious. But can feel a little cramped or difficult to get around it.

I wanted to love this place, but it's a mismatch for the vibe I was seeking…read more I was looking for zen, and given my view of the grocery store from my seat, a view of the prep kitchen in the other direction, the beat of the hip pop music playing unexpectedly loudly, and the lines, I'm thinking it's more of an urban, 20-something vibe. I probably would have loved it in my 20s. They do have a room with tatami mats & exposed brick with the vibes I was hoping for, but a woman is talking and gesticulating animatedly in there, and at another table there's a toddler, whereas the tables on the floor are ironically much quieter. Maybe I'll check out that room next time? I get the establishment isn't responsible for patrons' volume or meltdowns. They have signs asking you not to stay more than 90 minutes...which I find fascinating, as the ambiance doesn't lend itself towards lingering. Nonetheless, 4 stars because I really enjoyed my first iced Houjicha Latte. In the future, I'll take my drink orders to go.

Magic...Come for wine, and stay awhile!…read more Calling all wine lovers, and/or people who enjoy great wine. Jadu is a chic wine bar in Jamaica Plain that I had the privelege of checking out for the first time with friends. Located on the busy Centre street, this posh wine bar is something to talk about. Our server Alex gratiously mentioned some of their wine specials. We opted to stick to the menu, which had a lot to choose from. I recommend trying out a few different varietals, your palate will thank you :) I tried their Rose Pet-Nat which was phenomenal and everyone else had something different. Their menu is small, tapas style but yet so delicious and eloquent. We shared their Whipped Feta, Bread & Whipped Butter, Salad and Rice Pudding for dessert. Everything was spectacular! For 4 people we were full, but I could've stayed for more wine. There's never a dull moment when it comes to wine, right! I know that Boston has a ton of wine bars, but Jadu is something special. From the cozy ambiance to their fabulous and fun wine selections, it felt like I was in my own living room. And, maybe that is the vibe that are going for, but nevertheless they are worth a visit. Jadu means Magic in Hindi! Cheers~

The concept is unique and refreshing, and the space feels casual and easy to enjoy. Ordering was…read moresimple, and I love the idea of it transforming into a wine bar at night. I'd definitely come back to check that out. I tried the hot cocoa and the Maggi. The hot cocoa was delicious, rich and chocolatey without being overly thick or heavy. The Maggi had some really fun and unique ingredients, including avocado, and the tofu was especially well seasoned and flavorful. The only downside was the broth. It was labeled as a soup, but it felt incredibly watered down and lacked the depth of flavor I was expecting especially since I grew up eating maggi. The toppings and ingredients themselves were good, but the broth didn't quite bring everything together. My husband got the tuna salad bowl and enjoyed it.